October 5, 2007

The Senate is preparing to vote on their Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill as early as the week of October 15th. It is important that the Senate bill be approved so that the House and Senate can begin conference negotiations to “iron out” the differences between the two bills. Once those negotiations begin, it is important for the Senate to adopt the House funding level for Perkins.

The House bill includes a $25 million increase for Perkins Basic State Grants. This increase was passed as an amendment sponsored by Congressman John Peterson (R-PA). In the Senate, the Perkins Basic State Grants program is funded at Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 levels, and the overall Perkins funding level is $25 million lower than the House bill.

ACTION NEEDED:

It is extremely important for ACTE members to urge their Senators to support passage of the FY2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. In addition, urge the Senate to match the House level of funding in order to ensure that the Perkins program holds onto the slight increase provided in the House bill.

Ask your Representative and Senators to support the bill that is finally approved after conference negotiations because it is very likely that President Bush will veto the bill. Support is needed to override his veto.

Please contact your Senators and urge him/her to:

• Pass the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill.
• Support the House funding level during conference negotiations.
• Support the Perkins program by encouraging an increase in funding commensurate with the funding level in the House bill.
• Commit to supporting the final appropriations bill, even if the President vetoes it.

Please contact your Representative and urge him/her to:

• Support the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill with the $25 million increase for the Perkins program through the conference of the bill and its final passage.
• Commit to supporting the appropriations bill, even if the President vetoes it.
• Thank your Representative if they supported the bill in July.

This is a great opportunity to showcase your program and demonstrate the impact that CTE has in your state and your community. When talking with your Member of Congress office, be sure to include examples of how important CTE is in your community. If you need talking points or more information, please contact Advocacy Associate, Jamie Baxter.