Last week was the first week back in session for both chambers of Congress after a two-week recess. It was a busy week with Congress focused on holding its first round of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations hearings, aid to Ukraine, considering additional COVID-19 aid and restaurant relief aid, pending nominations and border policy. The House will be out of session this week, but the Senate will stay in town, where negotiations have begun on the large economic competitiveness bill, known as America COMPETES/USICA, which contains several ACTE priorities. Here are some additional news and notes for your week:
- America COMPETES/USICA Updates: On April 28, the Senate held procedural votes to launch a formal conference process with the House, and more votes on motions to instruct conferees are expected next week. Informal negotiations have been ongoing, but this marks the next official step in the legislative process. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the legislation and advocate for ACTE priorities included in the bill, including language in the House-passed America COMPETES Act similar to the JOBS Act and the College Transparency Act (CTA)!
- “Four Corners” Appropriations Leaders Meet to Discuss Fiscal Year (FY) 2023: Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), ranking member Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and ranking member Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) met for the first time in the FY 2023 funding cycle to discuss overall government funding levels. The “four corners” leaders hope to have an agreement on spending levels in the next few weeks.
- House FY 2023 Perkins Appropriations Letter Results: Recently, House CTE Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) led a letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee requesting robust funding for the Perkins Basic State Grant program in the FY 2023 budget process. You can see the final letter, which was signed by 127 House members, here. A big thank you to ACTE members for your advocacy related to the letter!
- House Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Education Budget Request: On April 28, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the House Appropriations Committee held its first hearing in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funding cycle, featuring testimony from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. During the hearing, several Members of Congress highlighted the need for strong workforce investments, although the Perkins Basic State Grant was not a topic of discussion.
- House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Surface Transportation Workforce: On April 27, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing to discuss bolstering the surface transportation construction workforce. The committee heard from several witnesses about the challenges that they are facing in the wake of workforce shortages, skills gaps and supply chain challenges.
- Joint Economic Committee Holds Hearing on Investments for Tomorrow: On April 27, the Joint Economic Committee of the House and Senate held a hearing titled, “Building on a Strong Foundation: Investments Today for a More Competitive Tomorrow.” You can watch the full hearing here.
- ETA Holds Webinar on Youth Apprenticeship Access in Rural Areas: On April 28, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) held a webinar to discuss youth access to apprenticeships in rural communities across the country, highlighting examples of successful partnerships in several regions. Read more about the webinar here.
- COVID Relief Funding Update: During an event this week, Department of Education announced investments from government, non-profit organizations and the private sector to support student academic and mental health recovery as part of a broader effort to help students, schools, and communities recover from the pandemic. In addition, the Department of Treasury has released additional guidance on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to emphasize they can be used for education expenses.
- Department of Education Announces Expansion of Second Chance Pell Experiment: The Department of Education has announced that it has invited 73 colleges and universities to participate in the third round of the Second Chance Pell Experiment, an initiative that provides access to federal Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals enrolled in participating programs. In related news, the White House also announced a series of activities, including education and job training initiatives, related to second chance opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons.
- Department of Education Announces Presidential Scholars Finalists: The Department of Education has announced the 2022 semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Awards, which includes students who have demonstrated excellence in CTE.
- FCC Opens Third Emergency Connectivity Fund Window: Schools and libraries can submit requests for funding to improve internet access, purchase equipment and obtain up to 12 months of recurring services between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023.
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