This week, Congress was fairly quiet as the House and Senate are both in recess. They will return next week. The Senate will be back in session on Monday (2/26) and the House will reconvene on Wednesday (2/28). Both chambers will have a brief period to pass government funding for the appropriations bills set to expire on Friday (3/01) and the remaining appropriations bills set to expire the following week on March 8. Unfortunately there is yet to be any public release of those bills, and few specific updates. Administration activity continues though, and you can read more below:  

• Department of Labor (DOL) Announces $200M Available in Grants to Expand Registered Apprenticeships: The DOL announced almost $200 million in apprenticeship grants available under the Apprenticeship Building America funding opportunities and the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula grants funding. More information can be found on the CTE Policy Watch Blog.
   
• DOL Announces $20M to Deliver Information Technology Skills, Training, Job Services to Youth: The DOL announced $20 million in available funds to provide information technology training and related employment services to students in the WIOA-authorized Job Corps Information Technology Academy. The deadline to apply for these funds is April 9, 2024.
   
• Biden-Harris Administration Releases State-by-State Breakdown of $1.2 Billion in SAVE Plan Forgiveness This week, the Biden-Harris Administration published a state-by-state breakdown of borrowers receiving $1.2 billion in forgiveness under the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, which started processing on Friday.
   
• Rep. Foxx Weighs in on Draft Apprenticeship Regulations: House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) sent a letter to the DOL Acting Secretary requesting that the comment period on new draft apprenticeship rules be extended, particularly so employers have more time to comment. .
   
• Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Releases New Resources on Students with Disabilities: The OCR released four new resources for students, parents and families and schools to share information about students with disabilities’ legal rights regarding discrimination.
   
• DOL to Hose Online Seminar for Agriculture Industry Employers, Workers and Other Stakeholders: The DOL plans to host a webinar on March 28 regarding federal requirements governing agricultural employment for growers, farmers, shippers, contractors, farm labor contractors, buyers and agricultural workers nationwide. Wages, housing, transportation, field sanitation, farm labor contractor certification and other topics will be discussed. Registration is open now.