Mar. 19, 2019
Legislator’s priority is to improve workforce development in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin) to establish the Career and Technical Education Investment Incentive Program was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate for consideration. Tobash’s bill is part of the latest bipartisan Career and Technical Education (CTE) (#GoodJobs4PA) legislative package.
“One of my top priorities has been to focus on good jobs and careers for all Pennsylvanians,” said Tobash. “Connecting our education system with the needs of job creators is common sense and necessary. To allow our businesses, industry and people to experience success in employment and to show economic growth, we must prepare workers by modernizing our approach to developing a high-quality, productive and evolving workforce by realigning our education, vocational and labor systems.”
House Bill 522 would support businesses in making direct contributions to career and technical partnership organizations. Those business contributions could be used to increase career and technical education enrollment, to purchase industry-standard equipment or to improve educational programs. It would be unique yet modeled after successful elements of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.
“It is imperative that we train our students with the needs of our economy, and right now that need includes more individuals with skills in trades,” said Tobash. “In an increasingly global economy where knowledge is the new currency, CTE lays a foundation for one of the most concrete pathways toward post-secondary learning and access to rewarding jobs.”
Tobash serves as the chairman of the House Education Committee’s Subcommittee on Career and Technical Education. This bill is one of a package of eight bills that seek to strengthen the Commonwealth’s commitment to education options and student success.
The lawmaker added, “House Republicans are putting families first through our commitment to rebuilding Pennsylvania’s opportunities to retain and create family-sustaining jobs – jobs that allow individuals the dignity of providing for themselves and their families. The House Republicans’ GoodJobs4PA initiative is a way to coordinate and take away impediments to make sure that government understands what student success is, what family-sustaining careers are, and how government might help coordinate those items and put them together.”
For more information about this legislation, or any other state-related issue, contact Tobash’s district office in Schuylkill Haven located at 988 East Main St., by calling 570-385-8235. Information can also be found online at
RepTobash.com or
Facebook.com/RepTobash.
Representative Mike Tobash
125th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rick Leiner
717.260.6437 (office), 717.497.8478 (cell)
Rleiner@pahousegop.com
RepTobash.com /
Facebook.com/RepTobash