Congress returned from recess last week and is back to work on the appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19). Read below to find out more about the House Appropriations Committee markup of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies FY19 spending bill and a new resource from Advance CTE and the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).
House Appropriations Committee Passes FY19 Funding Bill that Includes Key Education Programs 
On July 11, the House Appropriations Committee marked up and voted to pass the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies FY19 appropriations bill. The bill largely retained the funding levels for education and workforce programs included in the bill that was passed by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies and added $73 million for four education programs. As we reported, that bill included a $102 million increase for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins) Basic State Grant Program, a $13 million increase for National Activities under Perkins and increases for a couple of other key programs as well. The Senate Appropriations Committee passed their Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies FY19 Appropriations bill on June 28. This bill included level funding for Perkins at the amount provided in FY18. The FY19 appropriations process is still underway and differences between the two bills will need to be resolved to determine final allocations for Perkins for FY19.
Advance CTE and ACTE Release Summary and Analysis of Senate Perkins Reauthorization Bill
In Case You Missed It: Advance CTE and ACTE released an updated summary and analysis of the Senate Perkins Reauthorization bill last week, which outlines the changes that the Senate bill makes to current law. As we reported, this bill was marked up and passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee on June 26. Looking for more information and resources on Perkins? Check out Advance CTE’s Perkins webpage.
Kathryn Zekus, Senior Associate, Federal Policy