Secretary Duncan Testifies Before Appropriations Subcommittees
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently spoke before both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Other Related Agencies about President Obama’s FY14 budget proposal, which includes a number of proposals related to Career Technical Education (CTE).
Secretary Duncan’s written statement for the House Subcommittee contained a section called Supporting Career-Readiness for All which supports President Obama’s request to restore FY12 funding levels for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins). Secretary Duncan also described the Administration’s request for $300 million to support the High School Redesign program and $42 million for the development of dual enrollment programs that align with career pathways and local workforce needs. The delayed release of the President’s budget, which is traditionally released in February, will likely mean it holds less influence than it normally would in affecting spending and policy changes, because the House and the Senate have already passed their own budgets, but it is still very important.
Community College Grants
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor announced the third round of grant funding for the Trade Adjustment Community College and Career Training program. The latest grant makes available $474.5 million to help community colleges strengthen training partnerships with employers and will invest in innovative and evidence-based training models that include strong partnerships with local employers and employer organizations.
The grant is part of President Obama’s plan to ensure every American has at least one year of postsecondary education. Consortia or institutions that are interested in applying for funding can find more details here.
Representatives Thompson and Langevin Call for More Career Technical Education Funding
Today, Representatives Thompson (R-PA-5) and Langevin (D-RI-2) sent a Dear Colleague letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Other Related Agencies requesting level funding for Perkins in FY14. The letter highlights the importance of CTE programs in ensuring workers are prepared to hold jobs in high-wage, high-skill and high-demand sectors. The letter has been co-signed by 61 members of the U.S. House of Representatives; the list can be found at the end of this post.
The leadership from these representatives in promoting CTE in the current financial climate is commendable, and we encourage you to send a note of thanks, particularly if one of the representatives listed is based in your state. If you wish to express your appreciation to Representatives Langevin or Thompson for their leadership in organizing this Dear Colleague letter, you can contact them at their Washington D.C. offices at (202) 225-2735 or (202) 225-5121 respectively.
Arizona
Representative Raul Grijalva (D)
California
Representative Ami Berra (D)
Representative Lois Capps (D)
Representative Tony Cardenas (D)
Representative John Garamendi (D)
Representative Jared Huffman (D)
Representative Jerry McNerney (D)
Representative Linda Sanchez (D)
Representative Mark Takano (D)
Representative Juan Vargas (D)
Colorado
Representative Jared Polis (D)
Connecticut
Representative Joe Courtney (D)
District of Columbia
Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D)
Florida
Representative Patrick E. Murphy (D)
Guam
Representative Madelaine Bordallo (D)
Hawaii
Representative Colleen Hanabusa (D)
Illinois
Representative Bill Foster (D)
Representative Janice Schakowsky (D)
Indiana
Representative Larry Buschon (R)
Representative Andre Carson (D)
Iowa
Representative David Loebsack (D)
Kentucky
Representative John Yarmuth (D)
Maine
Representative Michael Michaud (D)
Representative Chellie Pingree (D)
Maryland
Representative Chris Van Hollen (D)
Massachusetts
Representative Michael Capuano (D)
Representative William Keating (D)
Michigan
Representative John Conyers Jr. (D)
Representative John Dingell (D)
Representative Sander Levin (D)
Representative Gary Peters (D)
Minnesota
Representative Timothy Walz (D)
Representative Rick Nolan (D)
Missouri
Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D)
New Hampshire
Representative Carol Shea-Porter (D)
New Jersey
Representative Rush Holt (D)
Representative Bill Pascrell (D)
Representative Albio Sires (D)
New Mexico
Representative Ben Ray Lujan (D)
New York
Representative William Owens (D)
Representative Louise McIntosh Slaughter (D)
Representative Paul Tonko (D)
Representative Charles Wrangel (D)
North Carolina
Representative Mike McIntyre (D)
Northern Marianas
Gregorio Kilili Camacho (D)
Oregon
Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D)
Representative Peter DeFazio (D)
Pennsylvania
Representative Matt Cartwright (D)
Representative Allyson Schwartz (D)
Rhode Island
Representative David Cicilline (D)
Texas
Representative Joaquin Castro (D)
Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D)
Representative Mark Veasey (D)
Vermont
Representative Peter Welch (D)
Virginia
Representative Gerald Connolly (D)
Washington
Representative Suzan DelBene (D)
Representative Denny Heck (D)
Representative Rick Larsen (D)
West Virginia
Representative Nick Rahall (D)
Wisconsin
Representative Thomas Petri (R)
Representative Mark Pocan (D)
David Beckett, Advocacy Manager
Tags: appropriations, community colleges, Congress, federal legislation, funding