Last week, lawmakers wrapped up Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 by passing a package of six appropriations bills, including the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill.
This bill provides the Department of Education $79.1 billion in discretionary spending, which is slightly below FY 23 levels. These lower funding levels are largely the result of the bipartisan agreement on spending caps for FY 24 and 25 that was part of the deal to raise the debt limit last year. However, in a big victory, the Perkins Basic State Grant will be funded at $1.44 billion, which is an increase of $10 million above FY23 levels. The bill does decrease the amount of funding available for competitive grants under the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grants (Section 114(e) of Perkins V).
With FY 24 bills finally complete, attention can turn to FY 25 bills, which are supposed to be complete by September 30. Earlier in March, President Joe Biden released his proposed budget for FY 25, requesting $82 billion for the Education Department. The request included a $40 million budget increase for Perkins over the FY 23 levels ($30 million above the ultimate FY 24 funding level). Further, the budget proposes $64 million for the continuation and expansion of the department’s Career-Connected High Schools competitive grant program.
The process will now shift to Congress as lawmakers begin crafting legislation funding the government for FY 25. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees will soon begin holding hearings examining the President’s budget and congressional budget priorities, and Secretary Miguel Cardona is expected to testify in the coming months.
However, the full House Appropriations Committee will work through FY 25 with a new chair, which could impact the process. Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) announced last week that she is stepping down as chair of the committee. House Republicans will determine its next chair in the coming weeks. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) immediately announced his candidacy for the chairmanship, and he seems to be the favorite.
As the FY 25 process gets underway, there will be numerous opportunities for advocacy. Soon, Reps. G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) will be circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter for their colleagues to sign in the House, and a similar letter will be circulated in the Senate. These letters will be calling on appropriators to provide robust funding for the Perkins Basic State Grant. ACTE will send an action alert when the letters are shared so members can call on their members of Congress to provide meaningful funding for CTE.
ACTE will continue to provide updates on FY 25 appropriations as the year unfolds. If you have any questions, please contact ACTE’s Government Relations Manager, Jimmy Koch ([email protected]).
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