This week, the House and Senate were relatively quiet as both are on recess, expected to return next week. When they return, House members are likely going to vote on a new chair of the Appropriations Committee, just as talks on the budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 take form. The Administration has been busy this week, with the Department of Labor announcing several new funding opportunities. Read on for more details!

• U.S. Departments of Education and Labor Continue Biden-Harris Administration’s Push for Better Pay and High-Quality Pathways into Education : The Depts. of Education and Labor announced a set of Good Jobs Principles for Education as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Good Jobs Initiatives, along with other efforts to recruit and retain teachers. 
• OCTAE Releases Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) on Advancing Gender Equity in CTE: The Department of Education’s Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) released a Dear Colleague Letter on recent progress around gender equity within CTE programs and areas of success. 
• U.S. Department of Labor Announces $49.2m in Available Funding to Support Career Training and Connect Rural Workers with Good Jobs: The Dept. Of Labor announced over $49 million available under the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative to provide career training and supportive services to workers in rural communities. 
• U.S. Department of Labor to Award Over $67 million to Help Youth, Young Adults with Disabilities Join the Workforce:  Dept. of Labor announced funding for the first of four, five-year cooperative agreements aimed at developing strategies to assist youth and young adults with disabilities in successfully transitioning to the workforce.  
• Reps. Owens, Wilson to Hold Hearing on Ramifications of New FAFSA Program: The Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will hold a hearing, “FAFSA Fail: Examining the Impact on Students, Families and Schools” on April 10. Visit the Committee’s website to view the hearing.  
• House Committee Leaders Applaud Bipartisan Bills to Align Education Opportunities with Workforce Needs: Chairwoman Foxx and Ranking Member Scott of the House Education and Workforce Committee attended a bipartisan panel discussion “Building America’s Every-Ready Workforce” and talked about legislation such as the “Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act” and “A Stronger Workforce for America Act,” which is a reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act that could be voted on by the full House as early as next week.  
• Ranking Member Cassidy Rebukes Biden’s Proposed Apprenticeship Rule: Ranking Member Cassidy of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, rebuked the Dept. of Labor’s proposed apprenticeship regulations.