Key Legislation
In March 2021, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), and Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) reintroduced S. 864/H.R. 2037, known as the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students Act of 2021, or the JOBS Act, to expand federal Pell Grant eligibility to high-quality, short-term job training programs at public postsecondary institutions. This bill is one of ACTE’s top legislative priorities, and it will be a key focus of our federal advocacy efforts in 2022.
Background
Currently, Federal Pell Grants are not available to postsecondary CTE students in short-term certificate programs that provide industry-based credentials and ultimately employment in high-wage, high-skill industry sectors or careers. As a result, many students across the country do not have access to high-quality, short-term CTE programs that culminate in credentials that are proven to increase earning potentials and employment opportunities, especially in several high-need careers within health care, manufacturing and construction. This bipartisan bill aims to amend the Higher Education Act (HEA) to make high-quality programs that are at least 150 clock hours and 8 weeks in length Pell-eligible. ACTE, along with other education organizations and employers, has been actively promoting a solution for short-term Pell for a number of years, including in this Congress. For example, we sent a letter to congressional leadership in 2021 expressing strong support for the JOBS Act and asking for its immediate passage.
In June 2021, a version of the JOBS Act was close to passing as Sens. Kaine and Portman introduced an amendment to the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), S. 1260, that would expand Pell Grants to short-term CTE programs. This amendment was accepted into a larger package of amendments that was closely negotiated between party leadership. Unfortunately, the package that included the short-term Pell amendment was not included when Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) made procedural objections to the amendment package and the bill moved on to final passage. The JOBS Act was also briefly considered as a potential amendment to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that was signed into law by President Biden this past November, but ultimately was not included there either.
Next Steps
Currently, there are 48 cosponsors in the Senate and 34 in the House of Representatives for the JOBS Act. ACTE’s public policy team is actively recruiting new cosponsors of the JOBS Act and urging Members of Congress to champion the bill. While a full reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which would provide a prime opportunity to debate Pell grants for shorter-term programs, is unlikely to move forward, there are other avenues for the JOBS Act. It is still possible that the JOBS Act could be passed as part of a different large legislative package, or it could gain traction as a standalone bill. For example, during the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and FY 2023 appropriations processes, there may be opportunities to advocate for the JOBS Act to be included in appropriations packages. There is also a chance that the USICA, which has yet to be passed by the House, could be amended in that chamber to include the JOBS Act, or that other “must pass” legislation emerges to provide a vehicle for a short-term Pell solution.
Momentum and support for the policy change continue to grow, and ACTE will continue to advocate for the JOBS Act, whether it is passed as a standalone bill or included as part of a separate legislative package. Please continue to monitor ACTE’s Policy Watch blog for more information as this proposal continues to make its way through Congress!
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