Much of the attention in Washington this week was on the FY 23 appropriations process, which is yet to be resolved (see more below). In addition to appropriations work, the House passed the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is now awaiting Senate approval. Congress also passed and President Biden later signed legislation codifying federal recognition of same-sex marriage.
The 118th Congress will begin right after the new year, on January 3. To prepare for the start of the new Congress, ACTE will be sharing more information on the impact of the election on CTE, including information on committee leadership, new Members of Congress and other resources relevant to CTE stakeholders. In the meantime, here are some updates from Washington:
- Discussions Continue on FY 23 Appropriations Bills: Congress has yet to agree on non-defense spending levels for fiscal year 2023, meaning that lawmakers will need to pass a short-term extension of government funding before expiration of government funding on December 16. The short-term extension, known as a “continuing resolution,” would temporarily fund the government at fiscal year 2022 levels until a larger framework for fiscal year 2023 is agreed upon. Timing on a final agreement is still unclear, and a resolution may not arrive until after the congressional holiday recess, or perhaps at the very beginning of the 118th Congress in January. There was some positive news over the weekend about the negotiations, and bipartisan, bicameral conversations continue.
- Department of Education Hosts National STEM Coordinating Conference: The Department of Education hosted the YOU Belong in STEM National Coordinating Conference in Washington, DC, as a kickoff to the “Raise the Bar: STEM Excellence for All Students” initiative. ACTE’s Public Policy Department was in attendance and participated in the conference. You can read more about the conference and initiative here.
- Department of Labor Youth Systems Building Academy Announcement: The Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is inviting workforce communities to nominate themselves to be a part of the Youth Systems Building Academy (YSBA), which will provide local workforce systems and their community partners with training and technical assistance to explore, design, test, implement or scale system-level approaches to engage and support young people in the workforce. Applications are due before Friday, January 13, 2023, at 5:00PM (ET). You can find more information at the link here.
- JOBS Act Letter to Capitol Hill: ACTE joined coalition partners to send a letter to appropriations leaders on Capitol Hill urging them to include language similar to the JOBS Act in any fiscal year 2023 omnibus funding package.
- Department of Education Releases Updated ESSER and GEER FAQs: On December 7, the Department of Education released updated guidance in the form of new “frequently asked questions” related to spending under the COVID-relief focused Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief and Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Programs.
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