CTE Policy Watch: A blog for CTE advocates

DC Digest: November 15-21

The biggest news in Washington this week was the passage of the social spending package, known as the Build Back Better Act, in the House on a party-line vote. The bill contains $1.7 in new investments across the federal government, along with accompanying revenue increases. It includes several provisions that will benefit CTE students and programs, including a $700 million investment in Perkins V. You can read more about the bill’s education-related programs in the CTE Policy Watch blog post linked below. Next, the bill heads to the Senate as leadership there aims to bring the bill up for a vote before the end of the year. In addition, negotiations surrounding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations bills are still ongoing, and Congress likely needs to pass another Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded before government funding runs out on Dec. 3. As we await the next steps from Congress, here are the key headlines from this week: 

• House Passes Build Back Better Act: On November 19, the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act along party lines, paving the way for the bill to go through final negotiations in the Senate. This version of the bill includes funding for CTE priorities that we have previously covered, including the $700 million in funding for Perkins. In addition, it also includes $5 billion for Community College and Industry Partnership grants which would provide funds to postsecondary institutions (including community and technical colleges and area CTE centers) to partner with employers to expand education and training opportunities in high-skill, high-wage or in-demand industry sectors or occupations. Read more on the bill and other ACTE legislative updates here. 
   
• Departments of Education and Labor Recognize National Apprenticeship Week: The Departments of Education and Labor, as well as organizations, schools and companies across the country, recognized November 15-21 as the 7th annual National Apprenticeship Week. The week was celebrated with events promoting apprenticeships and the opportunities that they provide for learners, including a Twitter hashtag - #NAW2021, the launch of a partnership and MOU with the Government of Switzerland to expand registered apprenticeships with Swiss-owned and Swiss-invested companies in the United States, and an online dialogue to expand access to registered apprenticeships among underserved communities. 
   
• President Biden Signs Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: On Nov. 15, President Biden signed the bi-partisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. The new law would provide significant resources to upgrade infrastructure across the country, and a few programs that benefit education and workforce development as well. You can read more on the blog.  
   
• Congressional Education Subcommittees Hold Hearing on COVID-19 Funds: The Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittees of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing with the Department of Education to discuss how schools are spending COVID-19 stimulus funds. Speakers highlighted community colleges' use of funds to address student mental health and underscored the importance of transparent spending. For more details, you can watch the full hearing here. 
   
• Committee for Education Funding (CEF) Sends Letter to Congressional Appropriators: The Committee for Education Funding (CEF), of which ACTE is a member, sent a letter to the bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting that Congress pass the FY 2022 Labor‐HHS-Education appropriations bill as soon as possible, calling on them to enact the bill and end the reliance on CRs to maintain government funding.  
   
• Department of Education Proposes Changes to Civil Rights Data Collection: The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education has published its draft information collection request package for 2021-22 in the federal register. In addition to new information request related to the impact of COVID-19, OCR is proposing to add an optional nonbinary category to gender data questions. This could eventually have an impact on Perkins data reporting as well. Comments on the OCR request can be submitted here by 1/18/22. 
   
• Department of Education Approves Additional ARP-ESSER Funds: The Department of Education announced that it has approved Puerto Rico’s ARP-ESSER plan. ARP-ESSER funds are used to support schools and students as they reopen for in-person learning, and to help sustain the safe operation of schools.

DC Digest: November 8-14

Last week in Washington, both the House and Senate were in recess, and it was a rather quiet week. However, Congress returns with a long to do list, and the Build Back Better Act may receive a vote in the House the week of November 15, before moving to the Senate. President Biden has also announced plans to sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which contains several provisions that may benefit schools, on November 15. You can read more in this blog post about the bill. As we await next steps and further information from Congress, here is the most important news from Washington:

• Department of Labor Announces Proposal to Rescind Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program: The Department of Labor has announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking public comment on a proposal to eliminate the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program. The department plans to direct its resources toward expanding access to good-paying jobs through registered apprenticeships instead.
  
  
• President Biden Nominates Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services: President Joe Biden has nominated Glenna Gallo to serve as assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services at the Department of Education. Currently, she serves as Washington State’s assistant superintendent of special education.
   
• Sen. Chuck Schumer Signals Additional Appropriations Delay Likely: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent an update to his Senate colleagues recently on the agenda for the rest of the year, including on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations process. Sen. Schumer expressed disappointment that senators have not yet been able to reach a “topline” agreement on funding levels for FY 2022, and noted it was likely that senators will need to pass an additional Continuing Resolution (CR) before current funding expires on December 3 to provide Congress with adequate time to finish their bills.

DC Digest: November 1-7

This week in Washington, both the House and Senate were in session. Most of the week was dominated by debate within the Democratic party on the Build Back Better Act budget reconciliation bill and scheduling a vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Finally, late Friday, an agreement was reached to vote on the infrastructure bill and set up the Build Back Better Act for a vote in a couple of weeks. The infrastructure bill was then passed by a vote of 228-206 and sent to President Biden for his signature. You can read more in this blog post about the recent activity and next steps. As we await further action by Congress, here is the most important news from Washington this week:  

• House Small Business Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the Community College Pipeline to Small Businesses: On November 4, the House Committee on Small Business convened a hearing to discuss the role of community colleges and other postsecondary CTE centers in the COVID-19 recovery effort and in addressing labor shortages. The hearing was held by the Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Ranking Member Young Kim (R-CA), along with the witnesses, all shared the sentiment that CTE is a key part of the economic recovery effort from the pandemic, as well as a key factor in addressing ongoing labor shortages. You can watch the full hearing here and read our blog with more details here. 

• House Committee Holds Hearing on Economic Effects of Technological Innovation, Automation and the Future of Work: On November 3, the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth held a hearing titled, “Our Changing Economy: The Economic Effects of Technological Innovation, Automation and the Future of Work.” You can watch the full hearing here.

• CTE Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Langevin Introduces Career Development Measure: On November 1, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) introduced a resolution in the House expressing support for designating November 2021 as “National Career Development Month.” The resolution highlights the importance of career development activities and their impact on learners. It also elevates a recent Harris Interactive Poll which found that only 13% of those surveyed had received career development support from a school, counselor or other career specialist.

• Department of Education Approves Additional ARP-ESSER Funds: The Department of Education announced that it has approved ARP-ESSER plans for California and Colorado. ARP-ESSER funds are used to support schools and students as they reopen for in-person learning, and to help sustain the safe operation of schools. 

• Department of Education Launches COVID-19 Data Dashboard: The Department of Education, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has launched a new COVID-19 data dashboard to help the public keep track of the impact of COVID-19 on K-12 schools. Data will be updated each week, and where available, the dashboard will include geographic data to measure the community impact of COVID-19.

DC Digest: October 25-31

This week in Washington, both the House and Senate were in session to focus on hearings and pending nominations, including Dr. Amy Loyd of the Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE). Late last week, President Biden and congressional leadership announced that a tentative deal had been reached on a framework for the now-$1.75 billion budget reconciliation package, known as the Build Back Better Act. $40 billion in workforce development and postsecondary education funding was included, including a $700 million investment in Perkins V. The timing of a vote on the bill is still in flux as congressional leaders work to negotiate final remaining issues, but the vote may be held as early as November 2. More details on the framework for the Build Back Better Act are provided below. As we await further action by Congress, here is the most important news from Washington this week:  

• Senate HELP Committee Advances Dr. Amy Loyd as OCTAE Assistant Secretary: On October 26, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee favorably reported the nomination of Dr. Amy Loyd to serve as the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE). Her nomination now moves to the full Senate for final confirmation. 

• President Biden and Congressional Leadership Release Framework of Budget Reconciliation Package: On October 28, President Biden and congressional leadership released the framework of a $1.75 trillion spending package, known as the Build Back Better Act. Notably, the bill contains $700 million in new funding for Perkins V - $600 million for the Basic State Grant program and $100 million for the Innovation and Modernization Fund, as well as additional resources across education and workforce development. Generally, the compromise investments are lower than those originally included in the House version of the bill, but will still have important impacts on programs and students. For more details on investments included in the bill, visit the CTE Policy Watch Blog. 

• House Appropriations Committee Holds Hearing on Defense Workforce Development: On October 26, the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee held a hearing to discuss workforce development and the Department of Defense. Several members of the subcommittee highlighted the need for high-quality CTE programs to help prepare the future of the defense workforce, and several witnesses pointed to CTE as a solution to filling open positions in the defense industry. You can watch the full hearing here. 

• Secretary of Education Visits Middlesex Community College: On October 29, Secretary Cardona visited Connecticut to tour Middlesex and meet with education leaders and students. During the visit, there was a particular emphasis on opportunities for workforce development and helping students earn industry-recognized credentials, such as Google's Career Certificates.

DC Digest: October 18-24

This week in Washington, both the House and Senate returned to focus on hearings and pending nominations. Both chambers will remain in session during the week of October 24 as congressional leaders hope to finalize negotiations on the budget reconciliation package. Congressional leaders are working to pare down parts of the budget reconciliation package in order to bring it closer to an overall spending amount that can gain enough votes in both the House and Senate to pass. Meanwhile, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill, which funds education and workforce development programs, including Perkins. More details are provided below. With all of the funding-related activity happening in Congress right now, it is not too late to continue advocacy efforts and urge federal policymakers to prioritize critical investments in CTE – you can find more information about ACTE’s advocacy efforts here. As we await further action by Congress, here is the most important news from Washington this week: 

• Senate Releases FY 2022 Appropriations Bill Text: With significant attention on the budget reconciliation process, the FY 2022 appropriations bills have been on the backburner. However, with the current continuing resolution (CR) expiring on December 3, significant congressional action is needed to wrap up this work. To begin to move things forward, on October 18, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill, which funds education and workforce development programs, including Perkins. In the Senate bill, the Perkins Basic State Grant received a $50 million increase over the FY 2021 level and $30 million over what President Biden recommended in his budget proposal in May. This total funding level, $1.38 billion, is identical to the House of Representatives’ bill that was released in July, providing a solid foundation for a potential increase for the Perkins Basic State Grant in the final appropriations bill. Learn more about the bill here. 

• Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Amy Klobuchar Send Letter to Congressional Leadership on Workforce Funding: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a Senate CTE Caucus co-chair and member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led 14 additional senators in a letter to President Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) urging them to invest in workforce training in the Build Back Better Act. Read more, including a copy of the letter, here. 

• ACTE and Advance Send Letter on Workforce and Perkins Funding to Congressional Leaders: With negotiations on the budget reconciliation bill continuing, ACTE joined with our partners at Advance CTE to make one more push to maintain CTE funding. On October 21, we sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to protect critical CTE and workforce development investments in the final bill. You can read the letter here. 

• Senate Confirms Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights: On October 20, the U.S. Senate confirmed Catherine Lhamon as Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Lhamon, who previously held the position during the Obama Administration, will work to combat discrimination on the basis of race, sex, and disability and to protect students’ civil rights in education. In other nomination news, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee announced a committee vote on Dr. Amy Loyd's nomination as the Assistant Secretary of OCTAE on October 26.  

• Department of Education Releases Resource on Student Mental Health: The Department of Education has released a new resource, Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health, to provide information and resources to enhance the promotion of mental health and social and emotional well-being among children and students. This resource highlights seven key challenges to providing school- or program-based mental health support across early childhood, K–12 schools, and higher education settings, and presents seven corresponding recommendations.

DC Digest: October 11-17

This week in Washington, both the House and Senate were out of session for most of the week, but are scheduled to return the week of October 18. The most significant development during the week was that the House passed and President Biden signed into law an increase in the debt limit that will stabilize the country's financial systems and avoid a federal default until early December. A longer-term solution must now be found over the next few weeks.  In addition, congressional leaders are still negotiating on the budget reconciliation package, although there still has not been significant movement on the bill publicly. At this stage of the process, it is important to continue advocacy efforts and urge federal policymakers to prioritize critical investments in CTE – more details are provided below. As we await further action by Congress, here is the most important news from Washington this week: 

• ACTE Launches Budget Reconciliation Social Media Campaign: ACTE is calling on Congress to maintain the robust funding levels provided in the Build Back Better Act for CTE and other workforce development programs as the negotiations continue! As CTE stakeholders, it has never been more important to engage in the #careerteched conversation on Twitter to meet Members of Congress where they are and urge them to prioritize critical investments in CTE. We need your help to keep CTE programs top of mind for Members of Congress as they make key funding decisions affecting CTE! If you have a Twitter account, CLICK HERE to send a Tweet urging Members of Congress to support CTE funding in the Build Back Better Act. You can read more about the campaign here. 

• House Members Send Letter to Congressional Leadership on Workforce Funding: Over 30 House members sent a letter to congressional leaders on October 13 urging them to provide no less than the nearly $80 billion in workforce development funding that was included in the House Education and Labor Committee’s portion of the Build Back Better Act.  

• Advance CTE Announces Request for Proposals: Advance CTE is launching an effort to provide a cohort of 4-5 states with 10 months of intensive technical assistance to advance the principle(s) and actions within CTE Without Limits that are most critical to strengthening their career preparation ecosystems and providing each learner with the greatest opportunities to reach their full potential. An optional virtual office hour will be held on October 22 from 3:00-4:00 pm ET or November 3 at 3:00-4:00pm ET for an overview of the application and to ask any questions pertaining to the application and selection process. RSVP to Kate Kreamer at kkreamer@careertech.org to receive meeting information. You can learn more about this opportunity and how to apply here

• Department of Education Approves Additional ARP-ESSER Funds: The Department of Education announced that it has approved ARP-ESSER plans for Guam, Maryland, Nebraska and Virginia. ARP-ESSER funds are used to support schools and students as they reopen for in-person learning, and to help sustain the safe operation of schools. 

• Department of Labor Announces Return to In-Person Job Corps Instruction: The Department of Labor announced that Job Corps centers will reopen new student enrollment for in-person instruction and job training at Job Corps centers across the nation.

DC Digest: October 4-10

This week in Washington, the House was in recess while the Senate was in session to focus on nominations and hearings. The Senate passed an increase to the debt ceiling to avert a fiscal crisis, and the House will return to Washington early next week to vote on the debt ceiling increase as well. Congressional leaders are still negotiating on the budget reconciliation package, and little movement on the bill has occurred publicly this week. In the meantime, here is the most important news from Washington this week:  

• Department of Education Announces Changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program: The Department of Education has announced changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). These changes include: a limited PSLF waiver that allows all payments by student borrowers to count toward PSLF, regardless of loan program or payment plan; automatically providing credit toward PSLF for military service members and federal employees using federal data matches; and reviewing denied PSLF applications for errors and giving borrowers the ability to have their PSLF determinations reconsidered. 
   
• Department of Education Approves Additional ARP-ESSER Funds: The Department of Education has announced that it has approved ARP-ESSER plans for Michigan, Wyoming, Missouri and Arizona. ARP-ESSER funds are used to support schools and students as they reopen for in-person learning, and to help sustain the safe operation of schools. 
   
• Jobs for the Future (JFF) Announces Grant Opportunity: JFF will be awarding $50,000 grants to three organizations across the country that are working to build regional IT career pathways. Workforce development boards, community colleges and other training and education providers, industry associations, intermediaries, and community-based nonprofit organizations may apply for these grants. Organizations across the country are encouraged to apply, especially those in the Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC, metro areas. Applications will be accepted through November 1, 2021, and recipients must complete all grant activities within six months of receiving the award. Please submit any questions regarding the RFP or the application process to Emily Pipes (epipes@jff.org) and notify her of your intent to apply by 5 p.m. PT on October 25, 2021. Click here for more information on how to apply.

• ACTE Joins Over Fifty Education Organizations to Support Internet Access: Fifty-seven education-related organizations sent a letter to congressional leaders on October 7 urging them to continue funding for student devices and broadband access through the budget reconciliation bill. Initial funding for the "Emergency Connectivity Fund" to assist schools was provided in the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year but is in danger of running out soon.  
   
• Senate Moves Forward on Biden Administration Nominations: Several Department of Education nominations were confirmed this week by the full Senate, including Gwen Graham to be the assistant secretary for legislation and congressional affairs; Roberto Rodríguez to be the assistant secretary for planning, evaluation, and policy development; and Elizabeth Merrill Brown as general counsel. In addition, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Jose Javier Rodriguez to be the assistant secretary for employment and training at the Department of Labor.  
   
• Department of Education Launches Negotiated Rulemaking Session: The Department held its first of three expected discussions on proposed regulatory changes, specifically focused on student aid programs including Public Service Loan Forgiveness. You can read more about the topics discussed in this Inside Higher Ed article.

DC Digest September 27-October 3

This week in Washington, House and Senate committees held hearings and considered pending nominations. Congressional leaders have been working to bring the Build Back Better Act, also known as the budget reconciliation package, to the House floor for a vote alongside the companion bipartisan infrastructure deal, but these negotiations remain fluid. In the biggest news of the week, both chambers passed a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded beyond September 30, the end of fiscal year. As we wait for more details on the timing of further action, here are the latest news and notes from DC: 

• House and Senate Education Committees Hold School Reopening Hearings: On September 29 and 30 respectively, the House Education and Labor Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held hearings on the safe reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnesses discussed mitigation strategies and policies surrounding school reopening. 

• Department of Labor Announces Grant Funding to Support Workers: The Department of Labor has announced the award of nearly $68 million in grant funding to help 29 organizations in 20 states and territories connect job seekers to employment as the economy continues its recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. The grant funding is part of the CAREER National Dislocated Worker Grants, which are designed to help individuals most affected by the pandemic.

DC Digest: September 20-26

This week in Washington, both the House and Senate returned from recess. House Committees continued their markup work and held several hearings, while the Senate focused on pending nominations and held hearings. In addition to the continued work on the budget reconciliation bill, the Build Back Better Act, Congressional leaders are still attempting to bring the companion infrastructure deal to the floor for a vote the week of September 27. In addition, there is also the more pressing issue of passing a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded after September 30. Here is some other news and notes from the week: 

• House Budget Committee Approves House Budget Reconciliation Bill: The House Budget Committee held a markup of the budget reconciliation package, known as the Build Back Better Act, on Saturday, September 25, and advanced the bill as the next step in the House’s process. It is still unclear if the House will bring this version of the bill to the floor, as negotiations within the House and with the Senate continue. The timing of future markups of the Build Back Better Act in the Senate are also still in flux. Nevertheless, this is still a great time to utilize ACTE’s Action Center to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to include robust, dedicated funding for CTE in the final version of the budget reconciliation bill.

• Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on Apprenticeships: On September 22, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s Employment and Workforce Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss ways to improve access to and awareness of apprenticeships. Two co-chairs of the Senate CTE Caucus, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), also attended the hearing as off-committee members. Sen. Portman celebrated the CTE Caucus and called for more senators to join the caucus, and Sen. Kaine discussed needed efforts to expand short-term Pell Grant access. The three witnesses present at the hearing included a student that recently completed an apprenticeship that led to full-time employment, as well as a career development professional and a business professional to provide industry perspectives. 

• Zach Curtis Joins ACTE's Public Policy Team as Government Relations Manager: Zach Curtis will be the association’s primary lobbyist, working alongside the public policy team to advocate for CTE priorities on Capitol Hill and with the executive branch. He will be laser-focused on CTE funding through the federal budget and appropriations process, issues falling under the House and Senate education committees and relevant regulatory issues pertaining to the Department of Education or Labor. Learn more about Zach on CTE Policy Watch! 

• Department of Education Announces National Blue Ribbon Schools: The Department of Education has announced 325 schools that were selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2021, recognizing schools that have achieved academic excellence or made substantial progress in closing achievement gaps. Language was added for this year’s selection criteria to recognize curriculum that supported college and career readiness. View the complete list of award winners here. 

• Department of Education Announces Funding to Promise Neighborhood Grantees: The Department of Education awarded over $40 million to a new cohort of Promise Neighborhoods grantees across seven states. Promise Neighborhoods bring together schools, nonprofits, and other organizations in a concerted effort to meet the needs of children and youth. 

• Department of Education Announces Awards to Showcase Commitment to Equity, Excellence, and Opportunity: The Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) announced it is on track to award more than 5,100 grants, totaling around $2.6 billion dollars, to new and existing grantees by September 30, 2021. Grants provided under these programs will serve more than 1.3 million students and millions more attending institutions with approved projects. These grants are in addition to the nearly $40 billion in emergency grants for postsecondary education provided to more than 5,000 institutions under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. 

• CTE Highlighted in Advancing Innovation in Adult Education Project: This past week, September 19-25, was recognized by adult education partners as Adult Education Week. The Advancing Innovation in Adult Education Project, led by the Manhattan Strategy Group, includes several CTE programs. The project received funding from the Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE).

DC Digest: September 13-20

Last week, the remaining House Committees finished their work on portions of the Build Back Better Act, also known as the budget reconciliation package, and the Senate returned to Washington only to consider pending nominations. You can read more about the progress and next steps for the Build Back Better Act below, and here are other news and notes from Washington: 

• Next Steps for Build Back Better Act: The next legislative step is for the House Budget Committee to compile each piece of the bill into one larger bill and send it to the House Rules Committee, where it will continue to move through the legislative process. At this stage, the reconciliation process will likely move to closed-door negotiations between key Democrats and leadership in the House and Senate to come up with a package that can garner enough Democratic votes to pass each chamber. Further markups and activity may also take place in the Senate, making this a critical time for you to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to include the robust funding levels for CTE and workforce development in the Build Back Better Act, as well as include CTE programs, including at area CTE centers. in any free postsecondary education proposals. 
   
• ACTE Joins Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) in Applauding Committee Passage of the Build Back Better Act: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) applauded the House Education and Labor Committee passing its portion of the Build Back Better Act, which includes $4 billion in dedicated funding for CTE programs, and nearly $80 billion total in funding for workforce development programs. ACTE joined Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s press statement celebrating the robust funding levels for CTE and workforce development programs, and is calling on the Senate to maintain or exceed these levels in the Build Back Better Act.

• James Kvaal Confirmed as Under Secretary of Education: The Senate has confirmed James Kvaal to be Under Secretary of Education in the U.S. Department of Education, where his focus will be on higher education priorities for the Biden Administration.