Posts Tagged ‘area CTE schools’

Legislative Update: Veterans’ Training Bill, Appropriations, America COMPETES

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

Veterans’ Training Bill Passed; Expands Eligibility to Area CTE Centers

Late last week the House passed the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 by a vote of 409-3, after it was cleared by unanimous consent in the Senate earlier in the week. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature. This bill will allow veterans to use their benefits at educational institutions that do not award associate or higher degrees, such as area career technical schools, career schools, and apprenticeship programs. This would be a change from the current Post-9/11 GI Bill, which does not allow participants to use funds at a non-degree granting institution. The new eligibility provisions will go into effect on October 1, 2011. This is a tremendous victory for CTE and a recognition of the high quality programs that our area CTE centers offer!

Congress Passes Short-Term Continuing Resolution

The House on Tuesday passed a continuing resolution (CR) by a vote of 193 to 165 that would fund the government and all federal programs at FY10 levels through March 4. The Senate approved the bill earlier on Tuesday by a vote of 79-16. With the shift in power in the House, and the weakened Democratic hold over the Senate, there is sure to be a more partisan fight over spending as expiration of the CR draws near in March. Soon-to-be Speaker of the House John Boehner (Ohio) has already said that he wants to roll back federal spending to 2008 levels.

America COMPETES Act Passed by Congress

The House this week passed the America COMPETES Act by a vote of 228 to 130, after it was approved by unanimous consent in the Senate last week. The bill now heads to President Obama for his signature. The goal of the bill is to improve the competitiveness of the United States by investing in innovation through research and development. There are a variety of provisions in the bill that will impact STEM education, such as the coordination of federal STEM education efforts, grants to increase the number of STEM teachers, and other improvements in STEM education. Because Congress wanted to pass this bill before the current session of Congress ends, the House had little choice but to accept the Senate version of the bill which scales back funding from the original House bill and reauthorizes the bill for three years instead of five.

By admin in Legislation
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Legislative Update: Budget Resolution, Veterans Training

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Senate Budget Resolution Markup

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad released his fiscal 2011 budget resolution (summary here) on Tuesday.  The resolution is $4 billion below President Obama’s discretionary spending request and includes reconciliation instructions to the Finance Committee to reduce the deficit by $2 billion in fiscal 2011. The Budget Committee held a markup of the resolution on Wednesday and Thursday. Budget resolutions are non-binding congressional blueprints that set spending and revenue goals and made budget deficit predictions. It would be up to the Appropriations Committee to decide which programs to cut the $4 billion from.

The Senate will next address the financial reform bill, so it appears the Budget Resolution will not come up on the floor for a couple of weeks.  Conrad said the Committee report would be filed on Monday. No word yet when the House Budget Committee may markup, but it could be as early as next week.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Hearing on Post 9/11 GI Bill

On Wednesday the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing to discuss the implementation of the Post-9/11 GI bill. Committee Chair Senator Daniel Akaka intends to introduce a bill before Memorial Day to make corrections and improvements to the program. Witnesses from both the American Legion and the National Association of State Approving Agencies suggested the Post-9/11 GI bill should allow veterans to use benefits at institutions offering non-degree programs.

In addition to bills introduced earlier this session to address this problem, on Tuesday Senator Patty Murray introduced the Veterans Employment Act of 2010 which also proposes to correct this issue.   That bill would expand the Post 9-11 GI bill to allow veterans to use their benefits for training at non-degree-granting institutions.

By admin in Legislation
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Legislative Update: Veterans Training Act

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Last week Senator Blanche Lincoln introduced S. 3171, Veterans Training Act which would provide Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program benefits to include educational institutions that do not award associate or higher degrees.  This bill is a companion to the one introduced in the House by Rep. Joe Sestak in October.  This would be a change from the current Post-9/11 GI Bill, which does not allow participants to use funds at a non-degree granting institution. This bill would allow veterans to attend postsecondary education institutions that do not grant associate or higher degrees, such as area career technical schools, career schools, and apprenticeship programs.

By admin in Legislation
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