Last week in Washington, both chambers of Congress were out of session, but the House and the Senate will reconvene this week. An agreement on Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations has yet to be finalized, but the deadline to extend government funding is quickly approaching on March 11. In addition to final CTE Month activities, ACTE is also keeping a close eye on any potential advocacy actions that may arise related to FY 2022 appropriations and the America COMPETES Act/USICA, which contains language similar to the JOBS Act and the College Transparency Act (CTA), two of ACTE’s top legislative priorities. As we await more congressional action, here are the biggest headlines from Washington:

• Advance CTE Update on Career Clusters Framework: Advance CTE has provided an update on the Career Clusters framework project. Read the update here.

• Department of Education Releases Resource on How States Use American Rescue Plan Funds to Reengage Students through CTE: The Department of Education has released a new fact sheet highlighting ways states and school districts are using American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to reengage students and enhance academic learning by expanding CTE opportunities. “Investments in Career and Technical Education – programs that are proven to successfully reengage students and prepare them for in-demand, good paying jobs – are key to that goal," said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

• Department of Labor Announces Apprenticeship Building America Program: The Department of Labor announced a grant program to strengthen, modernize, expand and diversify its Registered Apprenticeship program. The “Apprenticeship Building America” program will make $113 million in grant funding available, including up to $50 million to support equity partnerships and pre-apprenticeship activities to increase enrollment in Registered Apprenticeship programs. You can read more about the program here.

• Department of Labor to Host Panel Discussion on Women in the Construction Industry: The Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Women's Bureau, Wage and Hour Department, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration are hosting a virtual panel discussion to learn about employment opportunities for women in the construction industry. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 9, from 12:00 PM – 1:30PM EST. You can register here.

• Department of Education Announces Competition to Improve Teacher Quality: The Department of Education has posted a Notice Inviting Applications for the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program, which will award $35 million to bolster teacher preparation programs at the undergraduate and fifth-year level, as well as teaching residency programs for individuals new to the field. The Notice Inviting Applications is available here.

• Secretary of Labor Walsh Tours Colorado’s Workforce Development Programs: Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and local leaders discussed the value of workforce training in strengthening the nation’s economy. The visit included a tour of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s advanced aerospace manufacturing lab, and a roundtable on the importance of expanding access to job training.