June 1, 2006
THE ISSUE: Senator Snowe (R-ME) has authored a sign-on letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS), urging that the Senate maintain the additional $7 billion that was agreed upon in earlier Senate budget debates for the Labor, Health and Human Service (HHS), and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over Perkins funding. Senator Snowe is seeking support for the letter from other Senate Republicans.
With the President’s proposed elimination of the Perkins program and a tight budget year for discretionary programs like Perkins, it is more important than ever that this kind of bi-partisan support for adequate education funding be demonstrated by Congress. Unless the Senate budgets for more spending on education and HHS, programs under the subcommittee could face cuts.
ACTION NEEDED: If your Senator is a Republican, please call him or her TODAY and:
- Urge him or her to sign Senator Snowe’s “Dear Colleague” letter supporting an additional $7 billion for the Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Please visit ACTE Legislative Action Center to call your Senator.
- Let your Senator know that Perkins is working well in your community, and that career and technical education (CTE) makes positive investments in America’s future by providing relevant learning experiences for students at both the secondary and postsecondary levels, effective and proven links to skills-building and enhanced academic opportunities and improved employment outcomes; and that employers in your local area continue to need well-trained workers with good skills to compete in the 21st century economy.
- Please forward this alert to others who are concerned about funding for CTE.
If your Senator wishes to sign the letter, have him or her contact Kristin Smith, Senator Snowe’s legislative assistant, at (202) 224-5344.
Click here for more information on federal funding for CTE.
As always, we appreciate your efforts!
