As we begin the new year, the bulk of the focus has been on the vote for Speaker of the House. The swearing-in progress for House Members and other proceedings of the 118th Congress in the House were temporarily halted until Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was finally elected speaker early Saturday morning.
The U.S. Senate did return to Washington on January 3 to swear in its new members, but Senate now remains out of session until January 23. As we await more news from Washington, here are some key updates:
- Election Watch: Introducing the New Senators-elect: In the 118th Congress, seven new senators-elect will take office. While we will learn more about their education and workforce development priorities as the 118th Congress kicks off, several of the senators-elect have discussed CTE-related issues and priorities in their campaigns. To help CTE advocates prepare to meet these new senators, here is a preview of their public statements and/or plans for education as they begin their service.
- Reflecting on the Accomplishments of Senator Portman and Representative Langevin: Former Congressional CTE Caucus co-chairs Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) have departed from their offices to begin their well-earned retirement. The two public servants have dedicated large parts of their career to advancing the needs of CTE learners, educators and systems, earning them each an ACTE Lifetime Achievement Award this year. Learn more about their accomplishments here.
- 2022 Year-in-Review Legislative Update: As the new 118th Congress organizes, ACTE’s Public Policy team looks back at 2022 and the final year of the 117th Congress with a summary of CTE-related federal policy activities in 2022, and a preview of what to expect in 2023. Read the update here.
- Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act Signed into Law: The Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act - endorsed by ACTE - was included in H.R. 7939, the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022. This bill passed both chambers and was signed into law in December 2022. This is a significant victory for CTE teachers and military families. Read ACTE’s statement endorsing the bill here.
- Committee Leadership Update: Sen. Bernie Sanders has been informally announced as the new Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and it is still expected that Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) will serve as Ranking Member of the HELP Committee.
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