appropriations « Advance CTE Blog

House Passes FY12 Budget Resolution

Monday, April 18th, 2011

On Friday the House passed their FY12 budget resolution by a vote of 235-193. The resolution proposes to set non-security discretionary spending below 2008 levels and freeze it for five years. The budget resolution also seeks to save $4 trillion over ten years through cuts and changes to Medicare, Medicaid, other entitlement programs and discretionary programs.

The budget resolution sets spending levels for each appropriations subcommittee to use when determining funding individual programs. The resolution sets spending for Department of Education programs at $360 billion, which is the same as the FY06 level. It is clear that the House is serious about cutting spending, and it is likely that most federal programs will be once again touched by cuts in FY12.

However, the budget resolution, much like the Presidentâ€™s budget, is a blueprint that outlines the House budget priorities. It does not have the force of law, and does not have to be agreed upon by the Senate. Because Congress is on recess for two weeks, now is a critical time to reach out to Members while there are in their home states and districts. Contact from constituents goes a long way in making our message more personal, and will help foster relationships with their offices. You can schedule visits with Members or their staff, invite them to visit CTE programs in your state, and send them data and information on best practices in their state.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: advocacy, appropriations, budget, Congress, funding

Congress Passes CR

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Today the House (260-167) and Senate (81-19) passed H.R. 1473, the long-term continuing resolution that will fund the federal government through the end of FY11 (September 30, 2011). Once signed into law by the President, the bill will cut $39.9 billion from federal programs, including eliminating Tech Prep and cutting the Perkins Basic State Grant by $35 million. The Department of Education has 30 days to release details on the cuts to individual programs, including how the cuts will affect each state.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: appropriations, budget, Congress, funding, Perkins, Tech Prep

Update on FY11 Budget Cuts; Tech Prep Eliminated, BSG Cut

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

We learned yesterday afternoon from Congressional sources that the $138 million cut to CTE in the FY11 appropriations bill will be the total elimination of Tech Prep and an additional $35 million cut from the Basic State Grant. The rationale given was that the President had also proposed cutting Perkins in this FY12 budget. It seems that without Democratic or Republican support, we were a target during the tense negotiations last week.

In addition to the cuts to Perkins, we have learned that the following other programs have been cut or eliminated:

$90.5 million in cuts to the WIA Adult program;
$120 million in cuts to the Dislocated Workers program;
$96.5 million in cuts to the WIA Youth program;
$250 million in cuts to the Career Pathways Innovation Fund ($125 million in FY 2011 funds, plus a $125 million rescission of FY 2010 funds). DOL had released a solicitation for FY 2010 CPIF grant proposals earlier this year, but these funds are no longer available;
$31 million cut from adult education programs.

The bill would, however, fund a new $125 million DOL-administered â€œWorkforce Innovation Fundâ€ that would provide competitive grants to states or other partnerships for projects that â€œdemonstrate innovative strategies or replicate effective evidence-based strategiesâ€ to strengthen and align the workforce system to improve participant outcomes.

Please note that in addition to the cuts listed above, the bill includes a 0.2 percent across-the-board reduction for all non-defense programs, which is not reflected in these totals.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: appropriations, budget, community colleges, Congress, funding, Job training, Perkins, postsecondary, president, WIA

ACTION ALERT: Congress Plans to Cut CTE by $138 million

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Late last night the House introduced the long-term appropriations bill that will fund government programs through the end of FY11. Programs funded by the Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations subcommittee received a total of $157.7 billion. This equates to a $5.5 billion, or 3.36%, cut from fiscal year 2010 levels. This is also $13 billion, or 7.6 percent, below the Presidentâ€™s FY11 budget request.

While we do not have specifics on the exact cuts to Perkins, according to this chart released by the House Appropriations Committee, â€œCareer Educationâ€ was cut by $138 million (see page 7). It is unclear at this time if that reduction is from Tech Prep and the Basic State Grant, or just from the Basic State Grant. As soon as further details have been released by Congress and the Department of Education, we will update you.

The House is expected to vote on the bill TOMORROW, after which the Senate will take up the bill.

CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

It is crucial that you contact your Members of Congress TODAY to urge them to maintain funding for CTE!

Call the Senate at 202-224-3121 and the House at 202-225-3121. Ask to be connected to your Membersâ€™ offices.
Once connected to the Memberâ€™s office, ask to speak to the staffer that works on appropriations or education issues.
Tell them to vote against the continuing resolution because cuts to CTE and Perkins will hurt CTE students in every state. Insert concrete examples and data from your state about how students and programs will be impacted by losing this money. Make the case, where appropriate, that cuts will hurt the stateâ€™s economy.

If you have any questions or to update NASDCTEc on your contact with Congress, please call Nancy Conneely, Public Policy Manager, at 301-588-9630 or email her at [email protected]

By admin in Legislation
Tags: advocacy, appropriations, budget, Congress, federal legislation, funding, Perkins

Deal Reached to Cut Federal Programs by $38 Billion

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Late Friday night President Obama and Congressional leaders reached a deal that would avert a shutdown and fund the government for an additional week to allow time for both sides to work out a longer term funding bill that will fund the government through the end of September. Congress passed a week-long continuing resolution (CR) which includes $2 billion in cuts, all of which target transportation programs. The figure for cuts reached in the deal for the long-term bill is $38.5 billion (including the $2 billion in the two week CR).

While details have not yet been worked out, here is what we have heard from sources:

Defense programs will receive a $4 billion increase, so the cut to domestic programs will be $42 billion.
There will be a 0.1% across-the-board cut to all programs.
Race to the Top will receive $700 million.
The Pell maximum award of $5,550 was maintained.

In a statement released on Saturday, the White House said that “The two sides agreed to cut $13 billion from funding for programs at the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services.” We do not know where those cuts will come from, but details are expected to be released sometime today.

The House is scheduled to vote on the long-term CR on Wednesday.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: appropriations, budget, Congress, federal legislation, funding, postsecondary, race to the top

No Deal Reached; Shutdown Looms

Friday, April 8th, 2011

With less 12 hours to reach a deal before the federal government runs out of money and shuts down at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, Congressional leaders and the President have not yet hammered out a plan for a long-term funding bill. Earlier this week the House introduced and passed a week long continuing resolution, but the President and Senate Democrats rejected that bill, saying that they want to pass a long-term bill that funds the government through the end of FY11.

The President has met with House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid every day this week to reach a compromise. While there have been conflicting reports about what is holding up negotiations, reports are that cuts will be somewhere in the range of $33 to $40 billion. Boehner says that the sides have not agreed upon final dollar amounts for spending cuts, while Reid says that a number has been agreed upon and that the sticking point is a series of controversial policy riders that the House Republicans want included in the bill that affect abortion funding and the Environmental Protection Agency.

We will keep you updated on any new developments.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: appropriations, budget, Congress

House Introduces FY12 Budget Resolution

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (WI) yesterday released The Path to Prosperity, a budget resolution that aims to balance the budget and reduce the federal deficit. To do so, this resolution outlines cutting government spending by $5.8 trillion over 10 years compared to current spending levels, having the effect of reducing the deficit by $1.65 trillion over 10 years. However, budget resolutions are merely Congressional blueprints and do not have the force of law. If this budget resolution were to pass Congress it could be the basis for legislation that could become law.

While this resolution does not include very many specifics, there are areas where education funding was targeted. First, it proposed to return Pell grants to pre-stimulus levels. This seems to mean cutting the maximum award from $5,550 to the FY08 level of $4,731. Second, the resolution recommends â€œConsolidat[ing] dozens of overlapping job-training programs into more accountable career scholarships to improve access to career development assistance and strengthen the first rung on the ladder out of poverty.â€ It is unclear what impact this recommendation, if included in later legislation, would have on CTE and Perkins programs.

The House Budget Committee will vote on the resolution today, and could go to the full House as early as Friday. However, even if it passes the House, it is unlikely to pass the Democratically-controlled Senate. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (ND) is working on his own budget resolution.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: appropriations, budget, federal legislation, funding, Job training, postsecondary

House Introduces Another Short-Term CR to Avoid Government Shutdown

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Late last night Speaker of the House John Boehner (OH) introduced H.R. 1363, a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the Department of Defense though the end of September and fund the rest of the federal government for one week. If passed by the House and Senate, this bill would avoid a government shutdown when the current CR expires on April 8.

This bill proposes to cut federal programs by $12 billion below current spending levels. The Department of Education would be cut by $391 million, including $30.9 million from Adult Education State Grants. In our reading of the bill, Tech Prep appears to be safe for the time being.

But that does not mean we will stay safe. This CR once again prolongs the passage of a final spending bill that will fund the government through the end of September. Because the negotiations continue, we may still be vulnerable to cuts. This is a reminder to call your Congressman and let him or her know that value of Tech Prep and CTE in their district and state.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: adult education, appropriations, budget, Congress, funding, Tech Prep

Legislative Update: Appropriations, SECTORS Act

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

Congress Still Negotiating on Long Term Funding Bill

With just one week left to work out a deal before the current continuing resolution expires and the government shuts down, Congress is still trying to find a middle ground that they can agree on regarding cuts. As of Thursday evening, it was being reported that House Republicans and Senate Democrats are close to striking a deal that would cut $33 billion from current spending levels, but nothing had yet been agreed to.

SECTORS Act

This week, Senators Sherrod Brown (OH) and Olympia Snowe (ME) introduced S. 665, the Strengthening Employment Clusters to Organize Regional Success (SECTORS) Act. This bill would promote job creation by preparing workers with education and training tailored for jobs in high-growth industry sectorsâ€”like biosciences, clean energy, and advanced manufacturingâ€”in regions across the country by supporting partnerships between businesses, unions, educators, and the public workforce system. Representatives Dave Loebsack (IA) and Todd Platts (PA) introduced companion legislation in the House.

â€œWorkforce development and job creation go hand-in-hand. Even in this time of high unemployment, Iâ€™ve heard from Ohio companies in high-growth industries who say theyâ€™re ready to hire but canâ€™t find workers with the specialized skills needed to fill the position,â€ Senator Brown said. â€œWe need to do a better job of creating tailoring workforce development programs to meet the demands of these 21^st-century industries. The SECTORS Act creates partnerships between educators, industry, and workforce training boards to ensure that workers have the right skills to get hired in high-tech, good-paying jobs. And by ensuring a skilled, local workforce, we can attract clusters of employers in high-growth industries.â€

By admin in Legislation
Tags: appropriations, budget, business and industry partnerships, Congress, Job training, sector strategies

Legislative Update: Appropriations, ESEA

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Congress Passes Three Week Continuing Resolution

On Tuesday the House passed H.J. Res. 48, the most recent three week continuing resolution for FY 2011, by a vote of 271 to 158.Â The bill cuts government funding by $6 billion, but Tech Prep and Perkins are spared from cuts in this bill. Yesterday the Senate passed H.J. Res 48 by a vote of 87-13, avoiding a government shutdown once again. Congress now has until April 8 to come together to pass a long term funding bill.

President Calls for ESEA Reauthorization This Year

In a speech Monday at Kenmore Middle School in Arlington, VA President Obama called on Congress to fix No Child Left Behind (NCLB) before school starts for the nationâ€™s elementary and secondary students this fall. The President noted that the goals of NCLB were on the right track, but that there are considerable problems with the law that need to be fixed. For example, under the current law, more than 80 percent of our schools will be labeled as failing.

â€œWe need to make sure weâ€™re graduating students who are ready for college and a career,â€ President Obama said. â€œIn the 21st Century, itâ€™s not enough to leave no child behind. We need to help every child get ahead. We need to get every child on a path to academic excellence.â€

By admin in Legislation
Tags: appropriations, budget, Congress, funding, NCLB/ESEA, president, Secondary

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