Whereas a competitive global economy requires workers who are prepared for skilled professions; Whereas not fewer than 17,000,000 new workers will be needed to support the infrastructure sector of the United States in the next decade, including to design, build, and operate transportation, housing, utilities, and telecommunications; Whereas current global economic uncertainty and volatility have fundamentally shifted entire industries within foundational sectors of the economy of the United States, creating significant demands for high-quality and efficient educational opportunities to ensure a quick and equitable recovery; Whereas career and technical education (referred to in this preamble as CTE ) ensures that competitive and skilled workers are ready, willing, and capable of holding jobs in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand career fields such as science, technology, engineering, art and design, manufacturing, mathematics, nursing, allied health, construction, information technology, energy sustainability, and many other career fields that are vital in keeping the United States competitive in the global economy; Whereas CTE helps the United States meet the very real and immediate challenges of economic development, student achievement, and global competitiveness; Whereas in the United States, more than half of all jobs require some level of postsecondary education, but less than a bachelor’s degree; Whereas nearly 12,000,000 students are enrolled in CTE across the United States at the secondary and postsecondary levels, with CTE programs in thousands of comprehensive high schools, area technical centers, career academies, and nearly 1,000 2-year colleges; Whereas CTE matches employability skills with workforce demand and provides relevant academic and technical coursework leading to credentials of value for secondary, postsecondary, and adult learners