Recently, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees began developing funding bills for the coming Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The 12 annual appropriations bills are designated to specific subcommittees, with funding decisions concerning education and workforce development programs falling under the Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
Congressional appropriators must first determine the overall spending levels for the 12 funding measures—known as 302(b) allocations. The House would effectively freeze FY 2019 funding for the Labor-HHS-Education bill at the current 302(b) level ($177.1 billion). In the Senate, the Labor-HHS-Education measure would receive a slight $2.2 billion increase over FY 2018 ($179.3 billion). The difference between the two chambers will have to be reconciled before a final appropriations bill can be passed, but federal resources for Perkins and other education programs will come from this pot of funding. Without a significant increase in the 302(b) allocation, it is likely that many programs will be flat funded or even cut from current levels. It is an important time to advocate for increased funding for education and workforce training. Tell your Members of Congress about the importance of Perkins funding by visiting our CTE Action Center.
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