Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) received the Richard W. Riley Career Service Award “for an outstanding career of exemplary support of better education for all.”
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) received the Committee for Education Funding’s Special Recognition Award “for outstanding dedication to the success of America’s Students and for making education a national priority.”
Washington, D.C.—The Committee for Education Funding last night awarded the Outstanding New Member Award to U.S. Representative Glenn `GT’ Thompson, R-Howard. The award was given for his commitment to the nations’ students through advocating education as an investment in the future.
The ceremony, sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the Arts and Entertainment Television Network, took place last night at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington where several other legislators were honored for their achievements.
Thompson was recognized because of his work supporting career and technical education programs. He is a member of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus, and serves on the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee of the Education and Labor Committee.
In support of career and technical education, the Congressman wrote an op-ed in The Hill newspaper in May that contained the following: “As Congress moves forward with the goal of creating new jobs, we must place a national focus on retooling our workforce in order to remain competitive. We must ensure there are enough workers to fill the technical jobs that will soon be vacated by the retiring baby boomer generation and also to make certain there are enough skilled workers to fill newly created jobs. This will foster real economic growth with realistic and sustainable jobs.”
This year was the 40th anniversary for the Committee for Education Funding, (www.cef.org) a non-profit and non-partisan coalition of more than 80 organizations reflecting the broad spectrum of the education community.
Other awards went to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, Sen. Jim Webb, D-VA, Rep. Timothy Bishop, D-NY , Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-RI, and Ellen Murray, the clerk of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
Washington, DC–The Committee for Education Funding (CEF), the nation’s largest education coalition, celebrated its 40th Anniversary on Wednesday night at its annual gala and awards banquet. More than 350 education professionals representing pre-k through post graduate education, as well as members of Congress, attended to pay tribute to this year’s awardees.
At the awards banquet, Representative Tim Bishop (D-NY) was presented with the William H. Natcher Award for his “distinguished service during the first session of the 111th Congress in elevating the priority of education funding.”
“I am grateful to receive this distinguished honor from the leaders of the education community,” said Bishop, a member of the Education and Labor Committee. “Together we will continue to work to increase funding for education, so that more students can pursue their dreams and secure America’s future leadership in the world.”
Bishop helped author the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, which was passed by the House of Representatives last month and would generate almost $100 billion in savings over the next ten years that will be used to increase Pell Grant scholarships, keep interest rates on federal loans affordable, and create a more reliable and effective financial aid system for families — all at no cost to taxpayers.
The CEF recognized the work of four other Congressional leaders at the conference: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), Representative Glenn Thompson (R-PA), and Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI).
Founded in 1969, the CEF, a nonprofit and nonpartisan coalition of over 80 organizations reflecting the broad spectrum of the education community, seeks to achieve adequate federal support for the education of our nation’s students. Members include education associations, institutions, agencies and organizations whose interests range from preschool to postgraduate education in both the public and private sectors. For more information about CEF, please visit our website at www.cef.org.