Time to Focus on Funding.

Time to Focus on Funding. The 106th Congress is now underway with many complicated politicaland constitutional issues to tackle and the eyes of the world watchingmore closely than ever. While differences of opinion abound regardingthe impeachment impeachment,formal accusation issued by a legislature against a public official charged with crime or other serious misconduct. In a looser sense the term is sometimes applied also to the trial by the legislature that may follow. proceedings, it is clear that this issue will continueto monopolize mo��nop��o��lize?tr.v. mo��nop��o��lized, mo��nop��o��liz��ing, mo��nop��o��liz��es1. To acquire or maintain a monopoly of.2. To dominate by excluding others: monopolized the conversation. the congressional stage at the start of this new session.At the same time, a critical eye is being cast toward lawmakers to seethat they do not neglect key legislative issues, including fundingpriorities for fiscal 2000. For career and technical education, FY 2000 is a pivotal year. Itis the first year of our new authorization law, the Carl D. PerkinsVocational and Technical Education Act The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act was first authorized by the federal government in 1984 and reauthorized in 1998. Named for Carl D. Perkins, the act aims to increase the quality of technical education within the United States in order to help the economy. of 1998. After several years ofstagnant funding while awaiting the completion of this law, it is timefor Congress to give funding for these programs a significant boost. Theslow authorization process resulted in funding that barely kept pacewith inflation over the past few years. Last year's appropriations agreement resulted in a 12 percentincrease overall for programs funded under the Department of Education.New initiatives like reducing class size for the primary grades tookmuch of the new funding and made the headlines, while proven programslike the Perkins Act were slighted. Congressional support for career and technical education finallywas proven through the unanimous votes on passage of the final Perkinsreauthorization bill in October 1998. Such votes, however, do notactually provide funds, as these are assured only through votes onappropriations bills. Therefore, the next step Congress must take toprove its support is to follow up the reauthorization with a significantfunding increase. The Association for Career and Technical Education is supporting anincrease of at least $250 million for Perkins Act programs, bringing thetotal to nearly $1.4 billion. In addition, we continue to work with thehigher education higher educationStudy beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. community to support increases in the Pell Grant The Pell Grant program is a type of post-secondary, educational federal grant program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. It is named after U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell and originally known as the the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program. program to ensure that low-income students receive the financial supportthey need for postsecondary education. To obtain such an increase, Congress and the administration musthear from the career and technical education community. Though good newsabout budget surpluses seems to create opportunities for more funding,it is no guarantee. We must make a strong case for increased funds, andwe must push Congress and the administration to provide them. If you would like to have more federal funds Federal FundsFunds deposited to regional Federal Reserve Banks by commercial banks, including funds in excess of reserve requirements.Notes:These non-interest bearing deposits are lent out at the Fed funds rate to other banks unable to meet overnight reserve for your programs,please help us advocate for them. We provide many helpful tools foradvocacy, including a Legislative Alert fax and e-mail service See Internet e-mail service. and ourNational Policy Seminar which will be held in Washington, D.C., March21-23. The NPS NPS National Park ServiceNPS Naval Postgraduate SchoolNPS Net Promoter Score (customer management)NPS Non-Point Source pollutionNPS Native Plant SocietyNPS Norfolk Public Schools (Virginia)takes place just as Congress is beginning to make its FY2000 funding decisions. To participate in our advocacy efforts, pleasecontact the ACTE ACTE Association for Career and Technical Education (formerly American Vocational Association)ACTE Association of Corporate Travel ExecutivesACTE Approvals Committee for Terminal EquipmentACTE Anodal Closure Tetanus government relations office at (800) 826-9972. We needyour help to succeed.