Congress « Advance CTE Blog

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 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

House Hearings in PA and NY Look at Role of Higher Ed in Job Training

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

This week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held two field hearings in Pennsylvania and New York entitled, â€œReviving our Economy: The Role of Higher Education in Job Growth and Development.â€ At these hearings, the Committee heard from representatives from local schools and colleges about the education and workforce needs in their communities and their ability to prepare graduates for the local economy.

At the hearing in Wilkes-Barre, PA, several witnesses cited the need for increased funding for education and job training programs, community colleges and Pell grants that help students get the preparation they need for jobs at a time when demand for these programs is increasing.

One of the witnesses at the hearing in Utica, NY asked in his written testimony, â€œâ€¦ with understandably limited resources, how does a medium-sized community such as ours embark on the capacity building it needs to do in order to develop a workforce development education and training infrastructure that keeps pace with the needs of the future? As our economy is requiring higher and higher skills, the capacity of our systems to deliver those skills must continue to grow.â€Â This is a question that communities of every size across the country are asking at this critical time. Letâ€™s hope Congress is listening.

By admin in Public Policy
Tags: community colleges, Congress, funding, Job training, postsecondary, Public Policy

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

House Introduces Three Week CR, Perkins Not Targeted

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

On Friday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee introduced a new continuing resolution (CR) for FY11 that would fund the federal government for an additional three weeks beyond March 18, when the current CR is set to expire. This bill proposes to cut an additional $6 billion in the form of rescissions, reductions, program terminations, and eliminated earmarks.

Perkins Act funding is not one the cuts in the bill. However, the Career Pathways Innovation Fund is slated for elimination with the rationale that both the President and the Senate also targeted the program for cuts, and that the program received $500 million in mandatory funding in last yearâ€™s health care bill.

The House is expected to vote on this bill on Tuesday. It will then go the Senate for their consideration. While Perkins was not in this bill, further cuts will be made before the FY11 bill is complete. Please continue to call both your Representatives and Senators to make the case that Perkins funding should be maintained because of the benefits to students in their districts and states.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: advocacy, appropriations, budget, community colleges, Congress, federal grants, federal legislation, funding, Perkins, president

Duncan Defends FY12 Budget, and Perkins Cuts, Before the House

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan testified before the House twice this week concerning the Obama Administrationâ€™s FY12 education budget â€“ on Wednesday before the House Education and the Workforce Committee and Thursday in front of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

During the Education and the Workforce hearing, Rep. Glenn Thompson (PA) asked the Secretary why the Administration was proposing to cut Perkins CTE funding when CTE students outperform their peers in math and science. Thompson also wanted to know how schools could be expected to offer higher quality CTE programs with fewer resources. Duncan responded that results from Perkins-funded programs across the country are mixed â€“ some are great, but some are antiquated, so schools must learn from what is working and replicate.

At todayâ€™s appropriations hearing, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA) also asked the Secretary about the proposed cuts to Perkins, noting that CTE programs lead students to high wage, high skill, high demand careers through career pathways at a time when skilled workers are needed more than ever. Like Thompson, she said that CTE students in her district outperform non-CTE students in math and reading, and graduate high school at a higher rate. Again, Duncan responded that some CTE programs are great, while others are not, and that they made the tough decision to â€œcut where we could, to invest where we must.â€

It is clear from the Secretaryâ€™s answers that more consistent data about outcomes is needed to show the Administration that CTE programs are serving students well and leading to high achievement and high graduation and completion rates. Until we can tell a different story about CTE than the one Duncan is familiar with, cuts to Perkins may become a reality.

By admin in Legislation
Tags: appropriations, budget, Congress, Data, federal legislation, funding, Perkins, Public Policy, Secretary Duncan

FY11 Budget Still Hangs in the Balance

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

On Friday chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Daniel Inouye (HI), released a new seven month continuing resolution (CR) that proposed to cut an additional $6.5 billion from the current CR. This plan did not include cuts to Tech Prep or Perkins.

Today the Senate voted on both this funding bill as well as H.R. 1, the CR passed by the House last month that would cut FY11 spending levels by $61 billion. H.R. 1 failed to pass the Senate by a vote of 44 to 56, while Sen. Inouyeâ€™s bill failed by a vote of 42 to 58. These votes were seen largely as â€œtest votesâ€ to show that in order to pass a funding bill, both chambers must come together to negotiate a compromise that will likely fall somewhere in the middle of these two bills. Congress has until March 18 to pass a funding bill in order to avoid a government shutdown.

â€œOnce it is plain that both parties’ opening bids in this budget debate are non-starters, we can finally get serious about sitting down and narrowing the huge gap that exists between the two sides,â€ said Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY), vice chairman of the Senate Democratic Conference, in a speech at the Center for American Progress today.

This means that every federal program, including Perkins, is still vulnerable to cuts. It is imperative that we continue our advocacy efforts to make sure that both the House and the Senate understand how important CTE is to their district and state.

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

Posts Tagged ‘Congress’