Last week in Washington, Congress focused on responding to several issues, including responding to a shortage of baby formula, negotiating and passing Ukraine supplemental aid, and considering potential additional COVID-19 relief aid. Congressional action on CTE-related items was limited to the House passage of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorization, which you can read more about below. Only the Senate will be in session this week before both chambers recess for the Memorial Day holiday. Conference committee negotiators for the America COMPETES Act/USICA are also seeking to finish resolving their differences before the holiday, potentially setting up the legislation for passage in June. As we await more action, here are some news and notes:
- Employment and Training Administration Hosts Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship Meeting: On May 17, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) hosted a meeting featuring stakeholders focused on how to expand access to apprenticeships. Read more about the meeting here.
- House Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on Department of Labor FY23 Budget Request: On May 17, the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing with Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to discuss the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request for the Department of Labor. Read more about the hearing here.
- Fiscal Year 2023 Perkins Senate Letter: Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led a “Dear Colleague” letter to be sent to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting robust funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins) in the FY 2023 Labor, Health, and Human Services appropriations bill. The letter was scheduled to close on Friday, May 20, and a list of signers will be available soon!
- Committee for Education Funding (CEF) Letter to Appropriations Leaders: On May 10, ACTE’s coalition partner, CEF, sent a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting a significant increase in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 allocation for the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill.
- House Passes WIOA Reauthorization: On May 18, the House of Representatives passed a reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by a vote of 220-196, with just four Republicans joining the Democrats in favor of the bill. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden, it would replace the current WIOA law that was passed by Congress in 2014. Read more about the bill here.
- House Science Committee Holds Hearing on Electric Vehicle Workforce: On May 20, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee held a field hearing in Michigan on the development of the electric vehicle workforce. Read more about the hearing here.
- Secretary Cardona Visits Massachusetts Workforce Development Programs: On May 20, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited workforce development programs in Lowell, Massachusetts, with Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA). During the visit, the officials toured biomedical science programs and discussed how schools are using American Rescue Plan funding to support schools and students and connecting students to career opportunities through Lowell’s early college program and high school pathways program. Read more about the visits here and view a press release about the visits here.
- House Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Juvenile Justice: On May 20, the Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on improving the juvenile justice system. Read more about the hearing here.
- Flexibility Offered for some COVID Relief Funding: The Department of Education has issued a letter outlining extensions available for some funding under the American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). States can request extensions for liquidation of funds properly obligated by the deadline of September 30, 2024, particularly if supply chain or construction delays occur.
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