The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL COURT REPORTERS AND CAPTIONERS WEEK
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HON. RON KIND
of wisconsin
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Court Reporters and Captioners Week. Court reporters and captioners are highly trained professionals who have the unique ability to convert spoken word into text that can be read, broadcasted and archived. This profession provides a vital service to our Nation. Their work results in real-time translation services for people who are deaf and hard of hearing in addition to providing near instant translations in other settings. Our Nation's captioners ensure all Americans have equal access to news and other critical information.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention my wife, Tawni, and her work as a court reporter. Tawni has been a fearless champion and advocate for real-time writers. Most notably, she developed a program to transcribe the Veterans History Project recordings. Now the Library of Congress has a written record of these stories. I want to extend my sincerest thanks to the real-time writers who have given their time to do this.
In the 117th Congress, I reintroduced the Training for Realtime Writers Act, which would reauthorize the Training for Realtime Writers Grant program and encourage careers in real-time writing and court reporting, provide scholarships for students, and modernize curriculum to adapt to our changing world.
The Training for Realtime Writers Grant Program has been successful in training the current generation of captioners and court reporters and has aided in the rapid growth of these professions. By reauthorizing the Training for Realtime Writers grants, students will have the opportunity to enter a technical, well-paid, and highly skilled career that will allow them to become court reporters and captioners immediately upon graduation.
From maintaining the integrity of our democracy to ensuring every citizen stays up to date on today's 24-hour news cycle, real-time writers are vital to Americans in all communities. Over the past decade, this program has encouraged a new generation of real-time writers to enter this important field. I want to acknowledge the court reporters and captioners in the House of Representatives, especially those who were on the House floor on January 6, 2021, when insurrectionists breached the Capitol. Their work is crucial to the sustained function of our government, and I thank them for their service and dedication to our country.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 26
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