This week, the House was largely focused on the start of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations process and advanced several other pieces of legislation to wrap up the May work period, and the Senate focused on border security and judicial nominations. Meanwhile, the Administration continues their efforts to push student loan forgiveness and FAFSA implementation assistance, while promoting the “Investing in America” agenda. Keep reading for more details!
- House Begins Advancing Appropriations Bills: The House Appropriations Committee considered its first FY 2025 appropriations bills this week, approving the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill as well as the overall allocations for each subcommittee. As reported earlier, the proposed allocation for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill (which funds Perkins) is expected to result in a cut of more than 10% to that bill, potentially more.
- Chairwoman Foxx Remarks on Workforce Development Legislation: Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) delivered remarks in support of H.R. 6655, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, and H.R. 6585, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act, on the House floor. She noted how these bills would provide enhanced skills development and help students and workers get better jobs faster.
- House Marks Up Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024: The House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 on May 24. The legislation received both strong support and criticism, with future prospects uncertain as the bill now moves to the House floor and also must be considered in the Senate. The bill does include a focus on career pathways programs and industry/sector partnerships to build out workforce pipelines for specific industry sectors in rural America.
- Committee for Education Funding Releases FY 2025 Budget Book: The Committee for Education Funding published their Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget Book this week in response to the President’s FY 2025 Budget Request. They also hosted a webinar featuring a panel discussion with several practitioners, including Neeta Rancourt, Director of Atlantic Technical College in Broward County, Florida.
- Department of Labor Women’s Bureau to Host Equity 101 Webinar: The Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau is hosting a webinar to discuss valuable strategies to promote inclusivity and diversity within the skilled trades. This follows the release of their Toolkit for an Equitable Infrastructure Workforce, which is relevant to efforts to recruit nontraditional learners into CTE programs as required under Perkins.
- Acting Secretary Su Joins Panel to Discuss Biden Administration’s “Investing in America” Agenda: Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su participated in a panel at the Chicago Women in Trades to discuss what the Biden Administration is doing to ensure good jobs and careers.
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