Despite both chambers of Congress remaining in Washington, it was another quiet week for CTE-related items. The agenda for lawmakers included legislation to support law enforcement, actions to shore up funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), energy permitting regulations, committee hearings and a few pending nominations. Both chambers continue their work this week, where the top priority is developing an omnibus spending bill, discussed in more detail below. As this process unfolds, ACTE will keep you updated on the CTE news you need. In the meantime, here are some news and notes.
- Department of Education Guidance on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and TEACH Grants: Recent changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) and updates to the TEACH Grant program may provide ACTE members with an opportunity to receive PSLF credit for federal student loan payments previously made and enjoy streamlined requirements for the TEACH Grant program. Read more about the changes here.
- Department of Labor to Rescind Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program: The Department of Labor has announced that it will rescind the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program and focus resources on registered apprenticeships. The Federal Register is scheduled to publish the final rule on September 26, 2022. You can view the draft rule here.
- Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Chris Coons (D-DE) Introduce Senate Companion to Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act of 2022: On September 19, Sens. Marshall and Coons introduced the Supporting Small Business Career and Technical Education Act, which directs Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women Business Centers (WBCs) to assist small businesses in hiring career and technical education (CTE) program graduates. The bill also gives CTE program graduates access to SBDC and WBC resources that are useful for starting a small business. Read more about the bill here.
- Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Update: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has announced that the Senate will hold weekend talks in hopes of drafting an “omnibus” funding bill to extend government funding beyond September 30. Of the 12 appropriations bills Congress develops each fiscal year, none have passed and been signed into law for fiscal year (FY) 2023. A stopgap funding measure will be required to avoid a government shutdown. Lawmakers will also try to insert their own spending priorities into the omnibus bill, including humanitarian, immigration and defense aid. The Senate plans to begin floor consideration of the spending package on Tuesday, September 27. ACTE will keep you posted on all developments in the appropriations process.
- House and Senate Introduce Resolutions Marking September as Workforce Development Month: On September 20, S. RES. 780, to designate September 2022 as “National Workforce Development Month,” was considered and agreed to in the Senate. A companion resolution was introduced in the House on September 22.
- ACTE Joins Statement on Sustainable Systems for Quality Teaching: ACTE has signed on to a letter outlining the need to support the educator workforce. You can read the full letter here.
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