March 13, 2008

Earlier this week Representative Brian Baird (D-WA) and Representative Phil English (R-PA) began circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter requesting that Members of Congress join them in asking the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee to “support career and technical education programs under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act by rejecting cuts that occurred in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 and provide an increase in funding to keep pace with inflation, rising enrollments, and new program requirements." Dear Colleague letters are often distributed to show support for a particular legislative initiative or funding request. The letter also invites Members of Congress to join the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus.

It is important that as many Members of Congress as possible sign onto the funding portion of this letter to show the support and interest for an increased investment in CTE funding.

Please call your Representative to urge him/her to support an increase in Perkins funding for FY 2009.

The deadline to sign onto the funding letter is close of business on Monday, March 17, 2008. However, there is no deadline to join the Congressional CTE Caucus.

TAKE ACTION

• Please view the current list of House Members who have shown support for CTE already by signing onto the FY 2009 “Dear Colleague” letter.
• If your Representative has not signed onto the FY 2009 letter, please contact his or her office to urge support.
• Please visit the ACTE Action Center to get the contact information for your Representative’s Washington, DC office.
• When calling the office, ask to speak to the legislative aide who handles education issues.
• Tell the staff member that you are a constituent and would like his/her boss to support an increased investment in career and technical education by signing onto the FY 2009 funding letter sponsored by Congressmen Baird and English.
• Highlight and discuss your experiences with CTE. Include examples of how CTE affects students, businesses and your entire community. Be sure to mention how an increase in funding would have a positive impact. What would more funding do in your area?
• If the staff member has not seen this letter, be sure to direct them to a copy of the letter on ACTE’s Web site, or encourage him/her to contact Rep. Baird’s or Rep. English’s office.
• If your Member of Congress is on the Appropriations Committee, he/she will not sign on to the letter; however, you can encourage your Representative to join the CTE Caucus to show their support.
• Please know that your Member of Congress can sign on to the CTE Caucus and not the funding letter or vice versa. Both are great ways to show support for CTE.
• Please see a list of current CTE Caucus members. If your Representative’s office is supportive of CTE, and has not joined the CTE Caucus, please encourage him/her to join!
• Please contact Jamie Baxter at ACTE with feedback you received from your Congressional office.

If you need any additional information, please contact Jamie Baxter, Advocacy Associate, and visit ACTE’s Budget and Appropriations Web Page.