The third annual National Court Reporting & Captioning Week is in full swing and has captured the attention of lawmakers across the nation. Last week, U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta (N.H.) recognized the event, which runs Feb. 15-21, in a floor speech at the U.S. House of Representatives.
In his remarks, Rep. Guinta thanked the hundreds of court reporters and captioners within his home state of New Hampshire, as well those working in the profession across the country. Citing the scribes who were involved in the Continental Congress and the drafting of the nation’s Declaration of Independence, capturing the record has been a pillar of America’s Democracy, he said. Rep. Guinta also recognized his own parents, who have been part of the court reporting profession, as well as Michele York, RMR, who serves as an official court reporter of the U.S. House of Representatives and is a member of NCRA’s Board of Directors.
“My own parents met at court reporting school and later went on to start their own court reporting business, and 50 years later, my mother is still in the business,” Rep. Guinta said. “Court reporters are ever-present right now in this very chamber, in committee hearings, in capturing the spoken word and debate, including Michele York, formerly of New Hampshire.”
In his remarks, Rep. Guinta also noted that the court reporting and captioning profession is expected to grow over the next several years with as many as 5,000 new jobs expected.
“To the hundreds of court reporters and captioners in New Hampshire and around the country, thank you for all you do, and to the future reporters and captioners, thank you for continuing the legacy so paramount to our democracy and our country,” he added.
A number of state court reporters associations have also reported successfully working with lawmakers to recognize National Court Reporting & Captioning Week including California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. NCRA anticipates that additional state associations will report official proclamations in their states as the week continues.
“National Court Reporting & Captioning Week is an opportunity for our profession to celebrate the valuable contribution this vocation provides to ensure vital records are captured and maintained. We are honored and send a heartfelt thanks to Rep. Guinta for recognizing this time-honored profession,” said NCRA President Sarah Nageotte, RDR, CRR, CBC, an official court reporter from Jefferson, Ohio.
Court reporters, captioners, CART providers, and court reporting schools around the country are also participating in the week-long event by hosting an array of activities such as visits to high schools to showcase the profession, open houses, Veterans History Project interviews, media outreach, and more.
NCRA has made a wide range of resources available to its members, court reporting schools, and others at both crTakeNote.com and NCRA.org. Resources include tips on presenting the benefits of the profession to potential new students, press release templates, social media-appropriate logos and banners, and ideas for hosting special activities. NCRA will also rely on its social media outlets including Facebook, Twitter, and blogs to reach thousands of people throughout the week.
Watch Rep. Guinta’s speech here.
