After a flurry of summer activity, things are quieting down in Washington as lawmakers wrapped up work and recessed for the August break. Congress will return on September 2 to what is likely to be a contentious work period as the end of the fiscal year approaches. The Senate did make some progress on appropriations bills before leaving town, but there is still much more work to be done! August is a great time to connect with policymakers who are back in their home states and districts and emphasize the importance of federal funding for CTE. See below for a wrap up of other news these past two weeks:

• Senate Moves Forward on Appropriations Bills: The Senate passed three full appropriations bills before leaving town, covering Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and the Legislative Branch. The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee also approved its bill, which provided level funding for Perkins and most other education and workforce programs.
• Senate Approves Under Secretary of Education: On August 4, Nicholas Kent was sworn in as the Under Secretary of Education after being confirmed by the Senate. He will have a leadership role in overseeing postsecondary, CTE and adult education programs, along with federal student aid. In other nomination news, Penny Schwinn removed herself from consideration as the Deputy Secretary of Education, and will instead assume an advisory position that is not subject to Senate confirmation.
• ACTE Support College Transparency Act: On July 29, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reintroduced the College Transparency Act in the Senate, with Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introducing a companion in the House. The bill would lead to a stronger postsecondary education data system and make it easier to collect and report on CTE student outcome measures, and ACTE was proud to continue our support!
• Department of Justice Issues Memo on DEI Programs: On July 30, the Department of Justice issued non-binding guidance to all federal grantees related to “the application of federal antidiscrimination laws to programs or initiatives that may involve discriminatory practices, including those labeled as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ("DEI") programs.”
• Administrations Issues Requirements for New Postsecondary Data Reporting: On August 7, the White House Issued a memo requiring new reporting from institutions of higher education on applicants and those admitted, including data disaggregated by race and sex, as well as information on test scores and GPAs. An accompanying fact sheet and follow-up communication from the Secretary of Education provide more details.
• Department of Education Issues Guidance on Waivers: In a letter sent to chief state school officers on July 29, the Department provided guidance to states on how they can use existing flexibilities in education laws or “to seek creative and effective waivers for improving student academic achievement and maximizing the impact of Federal funds.”
• President Issues Executive Order on Federal Grantmaking: On August 7, the President issued an executive order titled “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking” that institutes new approval processes for the posting of funding announcements and awarding of funds to ensure they advance the President’s policy priorities. This could slow the funding process down considerably.