June 26, 2007

On June 21st, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY 2008 appropriations bill which provides funding for education, workforce, and health programs. The bill includes $60.1 billion for education. This number is higher than the President’s request, yet lower than the House Appropriations Subcommittee funding level for education. The House full Committee on Appropriations has yet to finalize its funding bill.

The Senate bill funds the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act at the same level as the House Subcommittee. The Senate bill provides $1.302 billion for the entire Perkins program. Basic State Grants and Tech Prep funding remain at the same level as appropriated in FY 2007, and National Programs receives a slight cut. National Programs include important activities such as the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, the National Assessment for Career and Technical Education, and support for other technical assistance and dissemination activities.

Consideration of the Senate education appropriations bill now moves to the full Senate. ACTE is working with other national organizations to encourage an amendment in both the House and Senate which would raise the level of funding for the Perkins program. The House Appropriations committee is expected to vote on its Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill the week of July 9th. The full Senate will most likely vote on their bill in mid to late July.

After the House and the Senate have voted on the bill in their respective chambers, the bill will move to a conference committee to work out the differences between specific program funding levels. ACTE will keep you updated on this process with advice on how to continue to advocate for an increase.

ACTION NEEDED:

• Please call your Senators and ask them to only support the appropriations bill if there is an increase in the Perkins Act.
• If your Representative is on the House Appropriations Committee, call his or her office and express that we oppose a bill that does not include an increase in funding for Perkins.
• Tell your Members of Congress (Senators and Representative) that even though CTE enrollment rates and costs of delivering services have increased substantially since the late 1990’s, the program is currently funded at less than FY 2002 levels.
• Also, tell your Members of Congress that the career and technical education programs funded by Perkins provide 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 CTE serves many in your community (be specific).
• Thank your Members of Congress for supporting the Perkins programs in the past.

For more information on the federal budget and the appropriations process, including state specific information and talking points, please visit the federal budget and appropriations page on ACTE’s Web site.