Following the passage of a budget resolution by the House and Senate, the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will begin drafting their portions of the larger budget reconciliation package. At this stage of the process, the key funding decisions for CTE are being made by members of these committees. We need your help to put pressure on policymakers to prioritize investments in CTE programs and workforce development in the budget reconciliation bill.
Your advocacy has been instrumental in securing funding increases for CTE for the past several years, and your voice is critical to ensuring that policymakers in Washington understand the many benefits of high-quality CTE programs. The Biden Administration has proposed $10 billion over 10 years for CTE programs in the reconciliation bill as a part of the President’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget request and American Jobs Plan. More broadly, the Biden Administration is calling for $100 billion in funding for workforce development. However,amidst competing priorities and limited resources available for education spending in the bill, these funds may not be included.
In addition, there are numerous discussions underway about how to provide up to two years of free college through the bill, and how to support postsecondary retention and completion. ACTE is proactively working to ensure that CTE programs at area CTE centers and certificate programs at other institutions are included in any of these proposals.
The House Education and Labor Committee is expected to begin considering its portion of the budget reconciliation package as soon as Thursday, September 9, and is putting that proposal together now. The Senate HELP Committee is expected to follow soon after, so now is the time to act!
ACTION NEEDED:
CLICK HERE to ask your Members of Congress to weigh in with their colleagues on the Senate HELP Committee and House Education and Labor Committee to ask them to support these three priorities in the budget reconciliation bill:
- Include the Biden Administration’s proposed investment of $10 billion over 10 years for CTE programs
- Match the Biden Administration’s $100 billion request for workforce development funding overall, including CTE funding
- Ensure that CTE programs are included in any postsecondary proposals, such as free college and college retention and completion initiatives, including programs at area CTE centers.
Additionally, if you have met with a staff member during NPS or at another time and have a direct contact, feel free to call or email directly rather than using the Action Center link. You can also call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, and an operator will connect you to your requested House or Senate office. Please contact your Members of Congress today!
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