Career and Technical Education

Career and Technical Education (CTE) graduates are continuing to emerge from programs across Wisconsin. These jobs are some of the highest paying, family supporting, careers that our state has to offer. However, I continue to hear from employers and graduates alike that have difficulty making the connection from school to job placement. I’m working to ensure workers are being connected to jobs.

One way to address this gap is H.R. 1642, the Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act, which passed the House this week. 

This legislation ensures employers have the resources they need to hire CTE graduates. The bill will help by informing employers about the ways CTE programs can meet their unique needs, and ensure career pathways can be created for future graduates.

Supporting American Employees

The House also voted this week to ensure that Small Businesses Administration (SBA) loans go directly to the American businesses they are meant to serve. Earlier this year, the SBA revealed that roughly $630 million in loans had been given to incorrect recipients including illegal immigrants and fraudulent actors. These are important funds that should have instead gone directly to job creators.

H.R. 2966, the American Entrepreneurs First Act, codifies new SBA verification requirements, including proof of citizenship and age verification for assistance applications. These reforms will strengthen protections against fraud and ensure that taxpayer-funded loans go directly to American businesses.

The SBA has a variety of programs available to assist employers. The SBA 7(a) loan program is an important program that allows small businesses and startups to access loans that might be otherwise out of reach. This program has been vital for many entrepreneurs in building their businesses and creating jobs in their communities.

However, the SBA recently reported that the program had more than $335 million in documented fraud. Additionally, some new lenders authorized in the previous administration under the 7(a) program have recently reported a default rate of 7%, This is twice the rate of default of the traditional 7(a) loan program. This waste and fraud not only harms taxpayers, but also takes away important loan opportunities for those who need them most. 

This week, the House voted to pass H.R. 1804, the 7(a) Loan Agent Oversight Act, and H.R. 2987, the CEASE Act, which increase transparency and restore accountability to the 7(a) loan program. It's important that Congress act to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and protect this program for those Americans who rely on it.

As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions, want to share an opinion, or are having trouble with a federal agency. 

On Wisconsin,

Bryan Steil
Member of Congress

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