Congressman Krishnamoorthi Joins Mayor Dailly, Harper College Leadership to Celebrate Opening of School’s Aviation Maintenance Lab that will Boost Local and State Economies

SCHAUMBURG, IL - Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) joined Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly, Harper College President Dr. Avis Proctor, and Harper College Trustee William Kelley to unveil the new Harper Aviation Maintenance Lab at Schaumburg Regional Airport. The new lab expands Harper's aviation program and provides students with greater access to affordable, in-demand education and hands-on training for successful careers in the aviation field. In 2022, Congressman Krishnamoorthi secured $500,000 in federal funding for the project, supporting instructional equipment, curriculum development, scholarship, and grant opportunities.

"Aviation across the greater Chicago area is critical to continuing to grow our local, state, and national economies," Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. "Programs like the Harper College Aviation Maintenance Lab right here in my Schaumburg community will help fill in-demand jobs needed for growth while also providing students with the experience they need to soar to new heights once they enter the field. Career and technical education (CTE) is the key to reaching the middle class for the majority of Americans who don't have four-year college degrees, and I'm proud to have secured $500,000 in federal funding for this new state-of-the-art facility."

The aviation industry is facing a nationwide shortage of skilled professionals. Aviation experts projectthat over the next 20 years, North America will need 119,000 new pilots, 123,000 new technicians, and 193,000 new cabin crew to meet growing demand. Harper College's aviation management and maintenance programs will bolster the local and regional economies, particularly given its proximity to major commercial and cargo hubs at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has long been a congressional leader and advocate for expanding CTE funding. The congressman authored the landmark bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act in 2018, which increased federal CTE funding by billions of dollars to help students acquire the in-demand skills, fuel economic growth, and provide access to the middle class.