CTE Policy Watch: A blog for CTE advocates

DC Digest: May 16-22

Last week in Washington, Congress focused on responding to several issues, including responding to a shortage of baby formula, negotiating and passing Ukraine supplemental aid, and considering potential additional COVID-19 relief aid. Congressional action on CTE-related items was limited to the House passage of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) reauthorization, which you can read more about below. Only the Senate will be in session this week before both chambers recess for the Memorial Day holiday. Conference committee negotiators for the America COMPETES Act/USICA are also seeking to finish resolving their differences before the holiday, potentially setting up the legislation for passage in June. As we await more action, here are some news and notes:

• Employment and Training Administration Hosts Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship Meeting: On May 17, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) hosted a meeting featuring stakeholders focused on how to expand access to apprenticeships. Read more about the meeting here.

• House Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on Department of Labor FY23 Budget Request: On May 17, the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing with Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh to discuss the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request for the Department of Labor. Read more about the hearing here.

• Fiscal Year 2023 Perkins Senate Letter: Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led a “Dear Colleague” letter to be sent to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting robust funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins) in the FY 2023 Labor, Health, and Human Services appropriations bill. The letter was scheduled to close on Friday, May 20, and a list of signers will be available soon!

• Committee for Education Funding (CEF) Letter to Appropriations Leaders: On May 10, ACTE’s coalition partner, CEF, sent a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting a significant increase in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 allocation for the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill.

• House Passes WIOA Reauthorization: On May 18, the House of Representatives passed a reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) by a vote of 220-196, with just four Republicans joining the Democrats in favor of the bill. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden, it would replace the current WIOA law that was passed by Congress in 2014. Read more about the bill here.

• House Science Committee Holds Hearing on Electric Vehicle Workforce: On May 20, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee held a field hearing in Michigan on the development of the electric vehicle workforce. Read more about the hearing here.

• Secretary Cardona Visits Massachusetts Workforce Development Programs: On May 20, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited workforce development programs in Lowell, Massachusetts, with Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA). During the visit, the officials toured biomedical science programs and discussed how schools are using American Rescue Plan funding to support schools and students and connecting students to career opportunities through Lowell’s early college program and high school pathways program. Read more about the visits here and view a press release about the visits here.

• House Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Juvenile Justice: On May 20, the Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on improving the juvenile justice system. Read more about the hearing here.

• Flexibility Offered for some COVID Relief Funding: The Department of Education has issued a letter outlining extensions available for some funding under the American Rescue Plan's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER). States can request extensions for liquidation of funds properly obligated by the deadline of September 30, 2024, particularly if supply chain or construction delays occur.

DC Digest: May 9-15

Last week in Washington, both chambers of Congress were in session and several CTE-related items saw legislative action, including the America COMPETES Act/USICA, where the conference committee met for the first time, and a bill to support CTE program graduates in small businesses. Other subjects at the top of Congress’s priorities last week included confirming the Federal Reserve chairman to an additional term, negotiating a supplemental aid package for Ukraine, COVID-19 restaurant and entertainment recovery aid and security assistance for Supreme Court justices. This week, both chambers will be in session to hold votes and hearings. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh is set to testify on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request for the Department of Labor, while reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is expected to be considered on the House floor. Here are some news and notes to start your week:

• House Holds Hearing on Aviation and Aerospace Workforce: On May 12, the House Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development held a hearing on the innovation and workforce needs of the aviation and aerospace industries. While this hearing spoke broadly of the challenges that aviation and aerospace small businesses are facing, CTE and apprenticeships were consistently highlighted as critical to their health and success. Read more about the hearing here.

• Department of Education Announces Presidential CTE Scholars: On May 12, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 58th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars, which recognizes 161 high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, arts and CTE. 20 outstanding CTE scholars were recognized this year. Learn more about the award winners here.

• Bill to Support CTE Graduates Passed by House Small Business Committee: H.R. 7664, the Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act, passed out of the House Small Business Committee on May 13. The bill will assist small businesses in hiring graduates from CTE programs and assist graduates with additional support to start their own businesses. ACTE has endorsed this legislation.

• Department of Labor Issues Guidance on Allotments, Application Process for Workforce Investment Programs: The Department of Labor announced that the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has issued guidance to inform states and outlying areas about their formula allotments and the process to apply for WIOA Youth, Adult and Dislocated Worker activities, Wagner-Peyser and Workforce Information Grants for the start of the program year on July 1, 2022. View the guidance here and a PDF on submitting Federal Register comments here.

• Department of Labor Announces Funding to Support Women in Registered Apprenticeships: The Department of Labor has announced $3.4 million in funding for up to nine grants to attract and keep women in registered apprenticeship programs in industries where women are underrepresented, such as manufacturing, infrastructure, cybersecurity and healthcare. Administered by the department’s Employment and Training Administration and Women’s Bureau, the Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program supports community-based organizations in their efforts to recruit, train and retain more women in Registered Apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations. Apply for the grants here.

• America COMPETES/USICA Conference Update: On May 12, over 100 Members of Congress began the formal conference committee negotiations to resolve differences between the House-passed America COMPETES Act and the Senate’s version of the bill, known as the USICA. The legislation is designed to boost semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and improve economic competitiveness with China. The America COMPETES Act contains two of ACTE’s top legislative priorities, the College Transparency Act (CTA) and language similar to the JOBS Act. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said the bill would help “build a strong and diverse” scientific and technological workforce and “make use of all the brainpower and talent we have.”

DC Digest: May 2-8

Last week in Washington, the House was out of session, but Members of Congress were largely focused on abortion rights after the surprise leak of a Supreme Court draft opinion. In CTE-related news, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) led the reintroduction of the RAISE Act, a bill to boost teacher pay and support recruitment and retention efforts for the educator workforce. In addition, the Senate completed 28 votes, known as “motions to instruct,” for conferees to begin bicameral negotiations on the America COMPETES Act/USICA. We are also awaiting the announcement of the first public meeting of the conference committee. Both chambers of Congress will return this week, where negotiations continue on COVID-19-related aid and a Ukraine supplemental aid package. Here are some news and notes for your week ahead:

• Sen. Booker, Rep. Schiff Introduce Teacher Compensation Bill: On May 3, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation that would boost compensation for all public early childhood and K-12 (including CTE) teachers. This bill, titled the RAISE Act, would provide every eligible teacher with an annual refundable tax credit between $1,000 and $15,000. Read more about the bill here.

• Senate HELP Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Supporting Broadband Workforce: On May 3, the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on supporting and developing the broadband workforce. Members of the subcommittee heard from broadband experts and stakeholders about the need to improve broadband access across the country. Read more about the hearing here.

• Cabinet Officials, Members of Congress Visit Workforce Development Programs: On May 2, Members of Congress and Cabinet officials visited workforce development programs in Virginia to highlight the importance of investing in in-demand career training programs. Read more about their visits here.

• Secretary Walsh Visits Ohio Community College, Announces Workforce Development Funding: Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh visited Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, where Boeing Co. announced more than $1 million in funding to help prepare a skilled manufacturing workforce. Read more about the Secretary’s visit here.

• Secretary of Education Cardona Supports Short-term Pell: During a visit to DC Central Kitchen with formerly incarcerated individuals, Secretary Cardona said, “I’m excited about short-term Pell.” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a Senate CTE Caucus co-chair and the lead on the JOBS Act echoed the Secretary's comments: “[I am] grateful for Secretary Cardona’s support,” and “look forward to partnering with Secretary Cardona to move it across the finish line.”

• Department of Education Announces Intent to Amend Regulations Implementing Section 504: The Department of Education announced plans to gather public input on potential amendments to Section 504 regulations to strengthen and protect the rights of students with disabilities. Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public and private programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance, including schools and postsecondary institutions. Learn more about the initiative here.

DC Digest: April 25-May 1

Last week was the first week back in session for both chambers of Congress after a two-week recess. It was a busy week with Congress focused on holding its first round of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations hearings, aid to Ukraine, considering additional COVID-19 aid and restaurant relief aid, pending nominations and border policy. The House will be out of session this week, but the Senate will stay in town, where negotiations have begun on the large economic competitiveness bill, known as America COMPETES/USICA, which contains several ACTE priorities. Here are some additional news and notes for your week:

• America COMPETES/USICA Updates: On April 28, the Senate held procedural votes to launch a formal conference process with the House, and more votes on motions to instruct conferees are expected next week. Informal negotiations have been ongoing, but this marks the next official step in the legislative process. Stay tuned as we continue to monitor the legislation and advocate for ACTE priorities included in the bill, including language in the House-passed America COMPETES Act similar to the JOBS Act and the College Transparency Act (CTA)!

• “Four Corners” Appropriations Leaders Meet to Discuss Fiscal Year (FY) 2023: Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), ranking member Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and ranking member Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) met for the first time in the FY 2023 funding cycle to discuss overall government funding levels. The “four corners” leaders hope to have an agreement on spending levels in the next few weeks.

• House FY 2023 Perkins Appropriations Letter Results: Recently, House CTE Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) led a letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee requesting robust funding for the Perkins Basic State Grant program in the FY 2023 budget process. You can see the final letter, which was signed by 127 House members, here. A big thank you to ACTE members for your advocacy related to the letter!

• House Appropriations Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Fiscal Year 2023 Department of Education Budget Request: On April 28, the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the House Appropriations Committee held its first hearing in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 funding cycle, featuring testimony from Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. During the hearing, several Members of Congress highlighted the need for strong workforce investments, although the Perkins Basic State Grant was not a topic of discussion.

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Surface Transportation Workforce: On April 27, the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a hearing to discuss bolstering the surface transportation construction workforce. The committee heard from several witnesses about the challenges that they are facing in the wake of workforce shortages, skills gaps and supply chain challenges.

• Joint Economic Committee Holds Hearing on Investments for Tomorrow: On April 27, the Joint Economic Committee of the House and Senate held a hearing titled, “Building on a Strong Foundation: Investments Today for a More Competitive Tomorrow.” You can watch the full hearing here.

• ETA Holds Webinar on Youth Apprenticeship Access in Rural Areas: On April 28, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) held a webinar to discuss youth access to apprenticeships in rural communities across the country, highlighting examples of successful partnerships in several regions. Read more about the webinar here.

• COVID Relief Funding Update: During an event this week, Department of Education announced investments from government, non-profit organizations and the private sector to support student academic and mental health recovery as part of a broader effort to help students, schools, and communities recover from the pandemic. In addition, the Department of Treasury has released additional guidance on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to emphasize they can be used for education expenses.

• Department of Education Announces Expansion of Second Chance Pell Experiment: The Department of Education has announced that it has invited 73 colleges and universities to participate in the third round of the Second Chance Pell Experiment, an initiative that provides access to federal Pell Grants for incarcerated individuals enrolled in participating programs. In related news, the White House also announced a series of activities, including education and job training initiatives, related to second chance opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons.

• Department of Education Announces Presidential Scholars Finalists: The Department of Education has announced the 2022 semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Awards, which includes students who have demonstrated excellence in CTE.

• FCC Opens Third Emergency Connectivity Fund Window: Schools and libraries can submit requests for funding to improve internet access, purchase equipment and obtain up to 12 months of recurring services between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023.

DC Digest: April 18-24

Last week in Washington was another quiet one as Congress wrapped up the second week of its Easter and Passover recess. Both chambers will return next week, where there could be action on additional aid to Ukraine and COVID-19 pandemic aid including restaurant relief. In addition, the appropriations season is shifting into high gear, and a hearing is scheduled in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies where Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will be testifying. As we prepare for Congress’s return to Washington, here are a few short news and notes: 

• Department of Education Announces Student Loan Program Changes: The Department of Education has announced changes to federal student loan programs, including account adjustments for long-term forbearance through the income-driven repayment (IDR) program and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). You can read more about the changes in the provided link.

• Secretary of Labor Walsh, Secretary of Energy Granholm Discuss Apprenticeship Opportunities: Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm visited LA Incubator in Los Angeles, California, this week to discuss apprenticeship opportunities and business innovation with employers, students and other stakeholders.

• Spring 2022 Legislative Preview: After two weeks of recess, Congress returns to a busy legislative schedule on Monday, April 25. Now more than ever, it is critical for ACTE members to ensure that CTE stakeholders’ voices are heard by Congress. There is so much at stake – from critical funding needs to expanding postsecondary opportunities and more – we need all of you to help us make this one of our best legislative years yet. Read the full preview here. 

DC Digest: April 11-17

Last week was a quiet week around Washington, as Congress took the first week of their two-week recess for Easter and Passover. Many lawmakers are attending events in their states and districts during this recess period, in addition to overseas congressional delegation (CODEL) trips as a part of the response to the invasion of Ukraine. Congress will remain in recess until April 25. Once they return, potential action items include additional COVID-19 spending and the innovation bill (America COMPETES/USICA). As we await Congress’s return to Washington, here are a few news and notes:

• Ask Your Representative to Support Robust Funding for Perkins in FY 2023: As the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations process gets under way, House CTE Caucus chairmen Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA) are leading a “Dear Colleague” letter to be sent to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee requesting robust funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins) in the FY 2023 Labor, Health, and Human Services appropriations bill. Read more about the letter here. The deadline for sign-ons is COB on Friday, April 22, 2022.

• Secretaries Walsh and Raimondo, Austrian Minister Schramböck Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs: Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Austrian Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs Dr. Margarete Schramböck signed a memorandum of understanding to expand registered apprenticeships among Austrian companies and Austrian-invested companies in the U.S. The MOU will promote the exchange of ideas and best practices for expanding apprenticeship programs in both countries. The U.S. currently has similar MOUs with Germany and Switzerland to establish new apprenticeship programs, increase awareness of opportunities and create career pathways. Read the full MOU here.

• Departments of Education, Labor Release Equity Action Plans: The Departments of Education and Labor have released their inaugural equity action plans to help advance racial equity and support for underserved communities through the federal government. The detailed action plan for the Department of Education can be found here. The detailed action plan for the Department of Labor can be found here. You can also read more on the Equity Action Plans on the CTE Policy Watch blog.
  
  
• HHS Announces Community Health Worker Training Program: On April 15, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new grant, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, to help increase the number of community health workers. The Community Health Worker Training Program will provide $226.5 million for education and on-the-job training to prepare 13,000 new workers. More information on the grant and application materials can be found at  https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=336498, and applications are due June 14. 

DC Digest: April 4-10

Last week in Washington, Congress worked to wrap up loose ends before adjourning for a two-week recess for Easter and Passover. The biggest focus was the final confirmation vote for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson for the Supreme Court, which was held in the Senate on Thursday. In addition, a new Russian sanctions and trade-related bill was passed and signed into law. Congressional leaders also continued working on negotiating additional COIVD-19 pandemic funding, but no agreement was reached on that package before they left town.  As we await lawmakers’ return to Washington after recess, here are a few news and notes relevant to CTE:

• House Approves WIOA Reauthorization Bill: On April 5, the House Education and Labor Committee approved the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022 (H.R. 7309) on a party-line vote of 29-21. In advance of the markup, ACTE and Advance CTE sent this letter to committee leaders outlining positive aspects of the bill and areas where we think more work is needed. To read more about the bill, read our blog post here.

• CTE Caucus Holds Membership Drive: The CTE Caucus highlights the importance of CTE in preparing a well-educated and skilled workforce throughout Congress. It is a great opportunity for Members of Congress to show their support for CTE students, educators and business partners in their states and districts. You can help ensure the continued strength of the House and Senate CTE Caucuses by encouraging your Members of Congress to join their caucus if they have not already done so! Read more about the campaign here.

• Department of Education Opens Grant Program for Educator Workforce: The Department of Education’s Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program is now accepting applications for efforts that increase the pipeline of highly effective educators. Learn more about the SEED program here. Applications for the grant program will close on June 3, 2022.

• Biden Administration Extends Student Loan Pause Through August 31: The Department of Education has announced an extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest and collections through August 31, 2022.

• House and Senate Appoint Conferees on America Competes/USICA: Both the House and Senate named conferees to negotiate differences between the House-passed American COMPETES Act and Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). A list of House conferees can be found here and Senate conferees here (Democrats) and here (Republicans). Of particular importance to CTE will be negotiators working on the education portions of the bill, where the House included short-term Pell provisions and the College Transparency Act, two of our top legislative priorities.
   
• White House Addresses School Infrastructure and Transportation: On April 4, the White House released a Fact Sheet on their plans for addressing school infrastructure issues, including a toolkit of resources, best practices and information about available funding. Be on the lookout for a new grant opportunity from the Department of Energy coming this summer!

DC Digest: March 28-April 3

Last week in Washington, the focus was on the release of President Biden’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request. We have developed several blog articles this week on funding-related processes, including a full recap of the president’s budget and what it means for CTE, which can be found below. Each chamber will return to Washington this week for one more week before adjourning for the Easter recess. There could potentially be action on the America COMPETES Act/USICA this week as we await the naming of conferees, as well as broader action on the Supreme Court nomination and COVID emergency funding. Stay tuned to CTE Policy Watch for any upcoming advocacy opportunities! In the meantime, here are some news and notes from Washington:

• President Releases FY 2023 Budget Request: On March 28, the Biden Administration released the president’s FY 2023 budget request. The request, which serves as a blueprint for Congress to appropriate federal funds, included a disappointing $25 million cut to the Perkins Basic State Grant compared to FY 2022 levels. Read more about the president’s budget request here.

• WIOA Reauthorization Bill Formally Introduced: On March 31, Democratic House Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Higher Education Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chair Frederica Wilson (D-FL) introduced a new bill to reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The bill, H.R. 7309, is titled the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2022. Read more about the bill here.

• Movement on America COMPETES/USICA: Last week, the House and Senate both took additional procedural steps to move forward on a bipartisan innovation bill. First, the Senate took up the House version of the bill (the American COMPETES Act) and amended it with the text of their bill, the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, or USICA. Following Senate approval of their bill, the House approved a motion to instruct conferees to begin negotiations to reconcile the differences between the two versions of the legislation. Speaker Nancy Pelosi added that conferees were expected to be formally named this week.

• Latest Information on Earmarks: The recently signed FY 2022 omnibus appropriations bill marked the first spending bill in a decade to include earmarks. If you have a project that might be eligible under the guidelines highlighted in this blog post, please reach out to your elected officials in the House and Senate to inquire about their request process for FY 2023. Readers can use this spreadsheet created by ACTE to learn more about which CTE-related projects in their state received FY 2022 earmarked funding. Read our full earmark analysis here.

• ACTE Releases Spanish Translation of “CTE Works!” Fact Sheet: This week, ACTE released a Spanish-translated version of our “CTE Works!” fact sheet to help CTE supporters inform learners and families in the Spanish-speaking community about recent research on CTE’s benefits. Read more here.

• House Small Business Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Upskilling and Reskilling: On March 31, the House Committee on Small Business’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Skill, Upskill, and Reskill: Analyzing New Investments in Workforce Development,” featuring witnesses from across the workforce development and business spectrum. Each Member of Congress in attendance and the witnesses emphasized the need to expand skills training to fill workforce gaps through CTE. Read more about the hearing here.

• Department of Labor CTE-Related Grant Opportunities: The Department of Labor currently has several open competitive grant opportunities for CTE stakeholders to apply for and obtain funding. We’ve reported on many of these grants as they were announced, but wanted to provide them here again all in one place! Read the rundown here.

• GAO Releases Report on CTE Challenges and Strategies: The U.S. Government and Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a study on how CTE programs are supporting learners. Researchers interviewed state education officials in Delaware, Georgia, Ohio and Washington; representatives from eight CTE program providers; 14 stakeholders such as employer partners; and individuals from six national CTE organizations. Read more about the study findings here.

• Secretary of Education Cardona Statement on Teacher Shortages: Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona is calling on states, higher education leaders and schools to tap federal resources to address the nationwide teacher shortage. Among the proposals the Secretary suggested is the establishment of teaching as a registered apprenticeship at the state and district level. Read more from the Department of Education here.

DC Digest: March 21-27

Last week in Washington, the House was out of session, while the Senate remained in town to conduct Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Both chambers will return this week. There is expected to be action on the America COMPETES Act, which contains legislative language similar to the College Transparency Act (CTA) and the JOBS Act, two of ACTE’s top legislative priorities. Stay tuned to the CTE Policy Watch blog for potential advocacy opportunities in the coming days! You can read more about the America COMPETES Act and its implications for CTE below. ACTE is also awaiting the release of President Biden’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget, which is expected to be released on March 28. ACTE will continue to work with its partners on Capitol Hill and within the Biden Administration to advocate for more robust federal investments in CTE, so stay tuned for more updates over the coming weeks! As we await more congressional action, here are a few key notes from the week:

• Senate Votes to Proceed on America COMPETES Act/USICA: The Senate is set to vote on Monday on a motion to proceed on the House-passed America COMPETES Act, also known as the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) in the Senate’s version of the legislation. The bill is aimed to support economic competitiveness with China, U.S. supply chains and semiconductor manufacturing. In addition to ACTE Public Policy’s advocacy work on the bill, National Skills Coalition is circulating a letter to national, state and local organizations in support of the amendment introduced by Reps. Andy Levin (D-MI) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) containing the CTA and JOBS Act language. If your organization would like to sign-on, please contact us. Read more about the America COMPETES Act/USICA here.

• FCC Opens Third Filing Window for Emergency Connectivity Fund: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that it will open a third application filing window for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program to award at least $1 billion in remaining ECF support and address outstanding demand for devices and broadband connections. The third application filing window will open on Thursday, April 28, 2022, and close on Friday, May 13, 2022.  During this filing window, applicants will be able to submit ECF requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and up to 12 months of service between July 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, for students, school staff and library patrons with unmet needs.

• Department of Labor Announces Funding to Support Employment Readiness for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians: The Department of Labor has announced $71 million in funding to provide training and employment assistance to American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. The grants will support services to equip individuals in these communities with education, job search assistance and occupational skills training to improve their access to better jobs and increased wages. The grants will be administered by the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Indian and Native American programs. Learn more about the grant and apply here.

• Department of Education and NASA Host Conversation on Title IX and STEM: On March 24, the Department of Education and NASA held a conversation on elevating the role of Title IX in involving girls and women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. Watch the recording of the event here.

DC Digest: March 14-20

Last week, action in Congress was relatively limited after President Biden signed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations package early last week. With FY 2022 appropriations now complete, Congress now turns its focus to the FY 2023 appropriations process. The first step is the release of the president’s budget, which is now expected to arrive on Monday, March 28. ACTE will continue to work with its partners on Capitol Hill and within the Biden Administration to advocate for more robust federal investments in CTE, so stay tuned for more updates over the coming weeks! Only the Senate will be in session next week, as House members are back in their districts for a district work period. Our focus at ACTE will be on the National Policy Seminar! As we await more congressional action, here are a few notes:

• ACTE Publishes New “CTE Works!” Fact Sheet: ACTE published a new “CTE Works!” fact sheet that provides an evidence-based overview of CTE’s impact on student achievement, education and employment outcomes, and the skills gap and economy. We encourage CTE supporters to share this fact sheet with students and families; federal, state and local education and workforce leaders; policymakers; and the media to convey the value of CTE. It can be used along with our “What is CTE?” infographic that introduces people new to CTE to its scope and benefits. A Spanish-language translation of this new fact sheet will be coming soon!

• President Biden Signs Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Bill: On March 15, President Biden signed the omnibus bill to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2022, providing over $1.5 trillion across the entire federal government. Overall investments in education were lower than what the President had originally proposed, but the Perkins Basic State Grant was given a much needed $45 million increase! While this represents a steady increase in CTE funding since 2017, ACTE will advocate for larger investments in the FY 2023 budget. Read more about FY 2022 appropriations here.

• President Nominates Nasser Paydar as Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education: On March 18, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Dr. Nasser Paydar, Chancellor Emeritus of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and Executive Vice President Emeritus of Indiana University (IU) as the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education. You can read more about Dr. Paydar's qualifications here.

• Northern Virginia Community College Visit: If you are attending NPS or located in the northern Virginia area, you can participate in a school tour of Northern Virginia Community College on Wednesday afternoon, March 23^rd, from 1:30pm – 3:30pm. Be sure to check out ACTE's NPS website for the latest information on the school visit and the RSVP!