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Last week, NMMA joined more than 400 business and education partners on a letter urging the Senate to take swift, bipartisan action to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. The letter is available here.

The letter states, “Because employers are reporting a shortage of skilled workers to fill in-demand positions, ensuring that secondary and postsecondary institutions offer modern, quality and relevant career and technical education (CTE) programs remains a leading priority so that we can develop and grow our nation’s workforce. As competition for high-skilled labor increases and as the U.S. economy reaches full employment, every effort must be made to close the skills gaps that many industries across all sectors face."

The boating industry is facing a shortfall of qualified workers for manufacturing, technicians, and service repairs. Prioritizing technical, vocational, and apprenticeship programs and connecting the marine industry with federal and state programs is the key to job growth and employment in marine manufacturing and retail. Reauthorization and modernization of Perkins is necessary to empower state governments to address local CTE needs.

For more information, please contact NMMA Director of Federal Affairs, Lance West at [email protected].