; and (2) support State efforts to offer intensive reemployment services; Whereas workforce development programs will play a critical role in addressing the expected 2,400,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs over the next decade; Whereas community colleges and other workforce development training providers across the United States are well-situated— (1) to train the next generation of workers in the United States; and (2) to address the educational challenges created by emerging industries and technological advancements; Whereas participation in a career and technical education (referred to in this preamble as CTE ) program decreases the risk of students dropping out of high school, and all 50 States and the District of Columbia report higher graduation rates for CTE students, as compared with other students; Whereas many community and technical colleges operate as open access institutions serving millions of students annually at a comparatively low cost; Whereas the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq.) supports the development and implementation of high-quality CTE programs that— (1) combine rigorous academic content with occupational skills; and (2) served approximately 12,000,000 high school and college students from 2017 to 2018; Whereas there are more than 500,000 Registered Apprentices in the United States, and there is growing and bipartisan support for expanding paid, on-the-job training strategies to help current and future workers gain skills and work experience; Whereas the federally supported workforce system and partner programs— (1) have helped rebuild the economy of the United States and provide increased economic opportunities; (2) provide a pathway into jobs that support families and lead to socioeconomic mobility while helping businesses in the United States find the skilled workforce needed to compete in the global economy