ACTE Legislative Alert: Appropriations Mark-Ups Begin

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June 4, 2007

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education is expected to begin work on its Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 appropriations bill on Thursday, June 7. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to follow later in June. During these “mark-ups,” the Subcommittees will be making crucial decisions about the amount of funding Perkins and other education and workforce development programs will be receiving in FY 2008.

While the recently completed FY 2008 Budget Resolution suggested $9.5 billion over the President’s request for Function 500, “Education and Related Programs,” the actual funding amounts for individual programs and education and workforce development overall will be determined by the Appropriations Committees in the House and Senate.

Throughout the year, ACTE has been partnering with other national organizations to request an increase in Perkins funding to $1.7 billion dollars. It is imperative that ACTE Members contact their Members of Congress to ensure that Perkins is funded at $1.7 billion dollars in the FY 2008 Appropriations bills!

Action Needed:

If your Representative (http://appropriations.house.gov/members110th.shtml) or one of your Senators (http://appropriations.senate.gov/members.cfm) is on the Appropriations Committee:

Ask him/her to fund the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act at no less than $1.7 billion dollars.
Let him/her know that stagnant funding to Perkins would force already cash-strapped schools, training programs, and community colleges to reduce or eliminate programs.
Let your Member of Congress know that the career and technical education programs funded by Perkins provides effective and proven links to skills-building opportunities and improved employment outcomes; that employers in your community continue to need well-trained workers with good skills; and that career and technical education serves many in your community [be specific].
Thank him/her for supporting the Perkins program in the past.

If your Member of Congress is not on one of the Appropriations Committees, contact him or her and ask them to contact the Appropriations Committee to ensure that Perkins receives adequate funding.

For more information on the federal budget and appropriations process, including state specific information and talking points, please visit http://www.acteonline.org/policy/legislative_issues/funding.cfm.