The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) is launching a new advocacy effort to connect court reporting and professional captioning education with emerging federal workforce priorities, beginning in Iowa.
NCRA President Cathy L. Penniston, M.A., RPR, CRI, a native Iowan and former instructor in Des Moines Area Community College’s (DMACC) Realtime Court Reporting Program, is leading the effort. Penniston has longstanding relationships with Iowa’s congressional delegation and has met multiple times with Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, and other members of the delegation. NCRA is also engaging state leaders in Des Moines, including the Governor’s Office.
The effort comes as the White House has announced more than $180 million in grants for mining education and workforce development. NCRA is highlighting how court reporters and professional captioners contribute to the skilled workforce supporting mining, the trades, government, public safety, and other critical industries.
“When we talk about strengthening America’s skilled workforce, we need to recognize the professionals who support the trades and the industries behind our economic growth,” said Penniston. “Court reporters and captioners bring specialized skills that are needed far beyond the traditional courtroom.”
DMACC’s nationally recognized program, the only one of its kind in Iowa, is approved by NCRA’s Council on Approved Student Education (CASE) and prepares students in realtime skills used not only in court reporting, but also in captioning, CART, government meetings, conferences, and other settings requiring an accurate, immediate record.
The connection to mining is particularly timely. The Mine Safety and Health Administration maintains official transcripts of mine safety hearings, while federal mining safety and training resources also incorporate transcripts and closed captioning. Iowa itself has more than 1,100 registered mineral sites and approximately 250 operators.
NCRA’s Iowa effort is intended to serve as a model for broader state advocacy. State associations interested in coordinating a similar effort with their state officials and congressional delegations in Washington, D.C., should contact Colin Brehm, the Association’s State Government Relations Manager.
Comments are closed.