July 29, 2006
The Issue
Early on July 29, the House of Representatives passed the “Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006” by a 399-1 vote. (Go to http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll426.xml to view the roll call vote.) Final passage of this legislation is a huge victory for career and technical education (CTE)! This was the final step necessary to send the bill to the President to be enacted into law.
The bill includes ACTE’s top three priorities:
- Using the term “career and technical education” instead of “vocational education.”
- Maintaining the Tech Prep program as a separate federal funding stream within the legislation.
- Maintaining State administrative funding at 5 percent of a state’s allocation.
These are huge victories for career and technical education and were ACTE’s top three priorities for the Perkins reauthorization conference. Positive outcomes on these issues show the respect Congress has for career and technical education programs and advocates.
For more information on the bill, see “Additional Background” below.
Action Needed
Call, write or e-mail your Senators and Representative and thank them for approving the “Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006.”
- Thank them for including the CTE community’s priorities in the final legislation.
- Let your Members of Congress know that CTE programs funded by Perkins are critical to your community and that this legislation is an important part of ensuring that America stays competitive in the 21st Century.
- Ask for their continued support for CTE through other federal legislation and the budget and appropriations process.
Members of Congress are heading home this August for recess, which provides an excellent opportunity to thank them in person and to invite them to view your programs in action. If you intend to thank your Members of Congress via e-mail, please visit ACTE’s Legislative Action Center.
