May 4, 2005
WHAT: This afternoon, the full House voted 416-9 to approve its Perkins reauthorization bill, H.R. 366, the “Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act.” For a complete list of how each member voted, please visit http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll154.xml.
The version of H.R. 366 passed today by the House makes only minor changes to the bill the House Education and the Workforce Committee passed on March 9th. While some concerns remain, the bill builds on current law and makes many positive changes, including separate secondary and postsecondary performance measures and enhanced local accountability provisions. Three amendments were offered to the bill on the floor – to clarify the Tech Prep hold harmless provision, to add language to permissible State leadership activities to support the transition of sub-baccalaureate CTE students into baccalaureate degree programs, and to add language to permissible local activities on training automotive technicians in alternative energy technologies. All three amendments passed.
The next step in the process will be the appointment of House and Senate conferees, who will form a conference committee to work out the differences between the two chambers’ respective reauthorization bills (H.R. 366 & S. 250). At this time, it is unclear when the conference will take place.
ACTION NEEDED: If your Representative voted “Yes” on the bill, contact and thank him or her for support of H.R. 366 and career and technical education. Ask for continued support as the Perkins reauthorization process moves forward to completion, and as budget and appropriations decisions are made for FY 2006. If your Representative voted “No” on the bill, reach out to him or her and encourage future support for career and technical education legislation. Contact information for your Representative is available through the Legislative Action Center on ACTE’s Web site at http://capwiz.com/acte/home/.
BACKGROUND: Background information on the Perkins reauthorization can be found on ACTE’s Web site at www.acteonline.org/policy/legislative_issues/Perkins.cfm, and information about funding for career and technical education can be found at www.acteonline.org/policy/legislative_issues/funding.cfm.
We appreciate your efforts! For more information, contact the Association for Career and Technical Education’s Public Policy Department, 1410 King Street, Alexandria, VA, 22315, 1-800-826-9972, www.acteonline.org.
