Last week was another week of infrastructure talks dominating most of Congress’ time. There are now 21 Senators who are backing the $974 billion bipartisan infrastructure proposal framework, yet there is still a long way to go until an agreement might be finalized. Both the House and Senate were also back in session last week, so it was a busy week for education and workforce development policy!
- House Approves $1.506 Trillion Total Spending Level for FY 2022: On Monday, the House approved a resolution along party lines that would set the topline discretionary spending level for House appropriators for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 to $1.506 trillion. This “deeming resolution” will allow appropriators to begin work on individual appropriations bills and set program-level funding amounts. We’ll be paying particular attention to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee markup, which is now scheduled for July 12. While the Perkins Basic State Grant Program received a proposed $20 million increase in the President’s Budget Request, it is not enough to meet the growing needs of CTE programs as the country emerges from the pandemic, and ACTE needs your help to put pressure on your representatives for a more robust increase to the Perkins Basic State Grant . Read more in our full blog post.
- House and Senate Panels Pass Separate Surface Transportation Reauthorization Proposals: In recent weeks, both House and Senate Transportation Committees have introduced and advanced their own versions of a reauthorization of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which is authorized through September 30. Both of these proposals included some smaller workforce development proposals, but none of the sweeping proposals the Administration laid out in the American Jobs Plan. These proposals, however, are seen as the first steps in working toward bringing the President’s American Jobs Plan to fruition. Read more in our full blog post.
- House Subcommittee Holds a Hearing for WIOA Reauthorization and Incarcerated Individuals: The House Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee held a hearing on Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorization to examine successful models of helping previously incarcerated individuals re-enter their communities and obtain good careers. In Chair Frederica Wilson’s (D-FL) opening statement, Wilson highlighted the need to address the worker shortage by allowing previously incarcerated individuals opportunities to help build a robust and skilled workforce.
- Senate Committee Holds a Hearing on Supporting Postsecondary Students: On Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on supporting postsecondary students and safely returning to campus after COVID-19. In Sen. Patty Murray’s (D-WA) opening remarks, she stressed that there is still work to be done after reopening campuses to ensure higher education opportunities are affordable and accessible to all. Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) in his opening statement agreed that it is important for higher education institutions to reopen, but said he believes the focus should be on reopening K-12 schools first.
- Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Holds a Hearing on FY 22 Department of Education Budget: On Wednesday, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing on the Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona testified during the hearing, in which the Secretary highlighted the importance of CTE several times during his testimony.
- Department of Education Announces 28 State American Rescue Plan Act Plans: Last Monday, the Department of Education announced that 28 state plans submitted by State Education Agencies under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act are now posted. The plans describe the ways states are going to use ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds to support schools, students and educators when re-opening for in-person learning and meeting the needs of students impacted by COVID-19.
- Department of Education Releases Quarterly Data Reports on Student Loan Programs: Also on Monday, the Department of Education released two quarterly data portfolio reports with key data and information about federal student loan programs. The reports are housed on the Department’s Data Center website and cover topics on student loan actions taken during the pandemic and the need for continued improvements to future programs.
- ACTE Supports Letter Calling for Significant Investments in Education and Workforce Programs: ACTE and several state ACTE associations recently joined a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in support of the Administration’s proposed FY 2022 funding increases for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee.
- Department of Education Issues New Guidance on Title IX Protections Related to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: On Wednesday, the Department of Education issued a Notice of Interpretation stating that it will include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity when enforcing Title IX prohibitions on sex discrimination.
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