The House began their five-week August recess on July 27, and the Senate has one more week in session before they begin their recess on August 8. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee was busy this week as policymakers look ahead to recess. They held a hearing on AI in the workforce and a markup to advance key education legislation, including a bill that would limit the Department of Education’s (ED) ability to enter into interagency agreements. As Congress heads toward August recess, ACTE also released an advocacy toolkit for members to engage with their representatives. Read more updates below.  

• Senate Committee Advances Legislation to Limit IAAs: On July 30, the Senate HELP Committee voted to advance a bill that would limit ED’s ability to enter into interagency agreements (IAAs) for specific offices. While the bill does not include the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE), ACTE will continue to work alongside lawmakers and advocate for OCTAE. Read more on the blog here. 

• College Transparency Act Receives Support in Committee: During the same markup, the Senate HELP Committee approved the College Transparency Act, a bill long supported by ACTE. The bill can now move to the full Senate for a vote, although the busy schedule makes timing uncertain.  

• ACTE Releases Advocacy Toolkit for August Recess: August Recess is an annual month-long break where policymakers generally leave Washington, DC, to work in their home states and districts. August Recess is an ideal time for advocacy, as the break allows Members of Congress to engage with their constituents and listen to their opinions on specific issues. Find the advocacy toolkit here.  

• Sens. Rochester, Marshall Introduce Bill to Modernize Data Systems: This week, Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Roger Marshall (R-KA) introduced a bipartisan bill, the RESULTS Act, that aims to improve state education and workforce data systems. Specific initiatives include modernizing the State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) Program and consolidating the SLDS and Workforce Data Quality Initiative at the Department of Labor (DOL). ACTE and Advance CTE have endorsed this bill.  

• ACTE and Advance CTE Hold Congressional Briefing on AI and CTE with CTE Caucus: On July 21, ACTE and Advance CTE hosted a briefing on AI and CTE in conjunction with the Congressional CTE Caucus. Find our takeaways from the briefing here.  

• Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on AI and the Workforce: On July 29, the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing titled “The Impact of AI on the Workforce.” Find a recording of the hearing here and read more details in our blog post.   

• ED Finalizes Waiver for Native American CTE Grantees: On July 24, ED issued a notice on the Federal Register finalizing a waiver for 36 Native American CTE Program (NACTEP) grantees in their fifth year of project implementation, enabling grantees to receive funding for an additional year. The NACTEP usually only lasts for up to five years.  

• Arnold Ventures Releases Requests for Proposals for CTE Research: Arnold Ventures is currently accepting applications across multiple policy areas through the Strengthening Evidence and Building Evidence Requests for Proposals (RFPs). The RFPs support quasi-experimental studies that estimate the real-world effects of existing policies, including career pathways. This research would identify programs and policies that widen access to good jobs and economic mobility, with a focus on CTE, apprenticeships and routes to opportunity beyond a traditional college degree. RFPs are due September 11, 2026.  

• OSTP Releases Report on Science Research and Policy: On July 21, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released a report that outlines recommendations for advancing national scientific research and priorities. Among the recommendations includes a focus on integrating hands-on, technical training and the skilled trades into STEM education, as well as scaling Workforce Pell and training opportunities.  

• ED Approves South Dakota Waiver: On July 24, ED granted South Dakota’s Returning Education to the States waiver, making it the sixth state to receive this waiver alongside Iowa, Louisiana, Indiana, Vermont and Arkansas.  
• NCES Releases New Postsecondary Data: This week, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released new data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). The new data shows that, in 2025-26, there were about 2,500 Title IV institutions offering associate degree programs and 2,400 offering bachelor’s degree programs.