On October 28, the White House announced its compromise framework for the Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation bill and the House of Representatives released updated legislative text reflecting the most recent negotiations. While this is a step toward final passage of the bill, it is important to note that negotiations are still ongoing, and details of the framework and legislative text are subject to change. Overall, this version of the Build Back Better Act would total $1.75 trillion across policy proposals spanning from universal preschool to healthcare to clean energy and more.
While not as much as in the original $3.5 trillion proposal, the bill does provide considerable funding to CTE and workforce development. This includes $600 million for the Perkins Basic State Grant program and $100 million for the Perkins Innovation and Modernization fund over about five years. While we have made it clear that these investments do not go far enough to meet all the needs of the CTE community, they are much needed to support students across the country pursue high-wage, in-demand careers through high-quality CTE programs.
In addition to Perkins funding, the following workforce and higher education investments are being proposed in the most recent version of Build Back Better:
- $550 increase to the maximum Pell Grant; Expansion of Pell to DREAMers
- $2 billion for Dislocated Worker Employment & Training
- $1 billion for Adult Worker Employment & Training
- $1.5 billion for Youth Workforce Investment Activities
- $1 billion for Registered Apprenticeships, Youth Apprenticeships, and Pre-Apprenticeships
- $5 billion for Industry or Sector Partnership Grants
- $500 million for Postsecondary Completion and Retention Grants
- $425 million for the Health Profession Opportunity Grant program
- $300 million for the Emergency Connectivity Fund
- $113 million for Grow Your Own (GYO) Educator Preparation programs
- $700 million for Adult Education programs
Moving forward, final negotiations on the bill text are continuing and the details of this bill could change before Congress votes on the package. The timing of next steps, including a final vote, is still unclear at this time. We will continue fighting to ensure that the CTE community’s needs are heard by Congress and the Biden Administration during the final stages of negotiation.
Dear Mr. Howell,
Thank you for writing to express your support for Carl T. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) program funding. I appreciate the opportunity to hear from you on this important issue.
CTE programs provide pathways to academic and workforce development programs in high schools, colleges, and workplaces across Georgia. However, CTE program funding has not kept pace with the number of interested participants.
As your U.S. Senator, I am committed to bringing jobs to Georgia and making investments into Georgia’s workers. That is why in July 2021, I was proud to send a letter to the Senate Appropriation’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies subcommittee, which requested increased funding for the Perkins CTE Basic Grant, the primary source of funding for CTE programs. I look forward to supporting these provisions in the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations bill, and will keep your thoughts in mind should other legislation supporting CTE funding come to the Senate floor for a vote.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please don’t hesitate to do so again in the future if I may be of assistance to you or your family.
Sincerely,
Reverend Raphael Warnock
United States Senator
Posted by: Mike Howell | 10/29/2021 at 03:59 PM