Earlier this week, House Democrats released H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, a $3 trillion, 1,800 page follow-up coronavirus relief package. The proposal provides significant support to state and local governments, hazard pay to front-line workers, resources to increase coronavirus testing, additional direct payments to Americans, and provisions to strengthen the Paycheck Protection Program, among other provisions. To view the 90-page section-by-section summary, click here.
From an education standpoint, the proposal creates a $90 billion education stabilization fund that would be distributed to states, who would then provide subgrants at both the K-12 and postsecondary levels. Allowable uses of funds include those under the Every Student Succeeds Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, and other federal laws. Further, the bill provides $1.5 billion for the E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries provide internet and connectivity-related services to students.
Specifically related to CTE, the proposal provides a retention of funds waiver, which will allow school districts to retain funds not spent this current school year for an additional year, instead of having to return them to the state. It also allows for Perkins recipients to pool funds together to support the transition from secondary education to postsecondary education or employment for CTE participants. Some waiver requirements around the use of Perkins funds for professional development activities were also included, which will make it easier for educators to receive professional development opportunities during the pandemic. All of these waivers were originally included in the Relaunching America’s Workforce Act and are top priorities of ACTE.
Although the proposal makes important, substantial investments into our education system, it failed to properly invest into our CTE and workforce systems. With over 30 million Americas who’ve already filed for unemployment, it is vital Congress acts swiftly to mitigate employment and economic disruptions, particularly for the most vulnerable, while also preparing a talent pipeline for industries that are in high demand and most impacted.
In early May, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced H.R. 6646/S. 3659, the Relaunching America’s Workforce (RAWA) Act, which provides over $15 billion in funding for various federal workforce programs in response to the economic fallout created by COVID-19, including $1 billion through the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), and $2 billion for community college and industry partnerships.
We are continuing to advocate for these critical resources directly for CTE and workforce programs to be included in the next relief package to ensure learners are prepared for labor market needs, particularly as the economy begins to rebuild after the pandemic. We need your help quickly to emphasize this message with Congress as the bill moves forward in the House! Click here to ask your Members of Congress to support the inclusion of funds for CTE, as provided in the Relaunching America’s Workforce Act, in the next relief package.
Members of Congress prioritize action requests from their constituents, so contacting them makes a huge difference. Please contact them today and urge them to show their support for CTE programs by supporting the inclusion of Relaunching America’s Workforce Act in the next comprehensive coronavirus relief package! You can also call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. An operator will then connect you with your requested office.
I hope that no Americans support this bill, which is another colossal waste of taxpayer money. I am in favor of support for schools of all types, however this $3 trillion bill proposed by the Democratic led House is nothing more than pay-back to their supporters and is another burden on our children and grandchildren. We should be looking out for their financial futures as well as their educational futures. How can we continue to pile trillions and trillions of dollars upon them and expect them to be saddled with this debt burden, that we created, for their entire lives and the lives of their children. This waste of tax dollars is criminal. What America needs to be doing now is tightening our belts and saving money whenever and wherever possible, not borrowing more to throw away. If you want my support for the RAIWA Act, or any other education funding act,I will be glad to review it and consider its merits, but I will not support including it in a colossal omnibus bill that throws away trillions of dollars.
Posted by: Bill Hardy | 05/13/2020 at 07:03 PM
What we need to do is go back to work. This COVID thing is a fear-based media-hyped attempt to derail freedoms. Just say no, and go back to work.
Posted by: Alan Ashton | 05/14/2020 at 09:49 AM