|
 The
Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 (Perkins Act),
signed into law on October 31, 1998, is designed to provide students with specific
occupational training, employability skills, and contextual academic preparation
for a broad range of occupations. "With funding allocated through the Perkins
Act, states are able to support programs like vocational agriculture training
that are instrumental in providing students at the secondary and post-secondary
levels with the required academic, technical and employability skills necessary
to be successful in the workforce," National Grange Master Bill Steel said. The
National Grange passed a resolution at its 137th annual convention last year that
supports the federal government's continued investment in career vocational-technical
education by reauthorizing the Perkins Act. Related
press release
The
Perkins Act officially expired on September 30, 2003 and it needs to be reauthorized
by Congress until this fall to continue the program funding. In the $2.4 trillion
federal budget request for FY 2005 (school year2005-2006) released by the Bush
Administration on February 2, 2004, the Administration is requesting an approximate
25% cut to funds for career and technical education. The Administration is also
requesting to replace the $1.34 billion Perkins Act program with a $1 billion
Secondary and Technical Education State Grants program. See
President Bush's FY 2005 Budget - Dept. of Education Congress
is currently debating the FY 2005 Budget Resolution and it is likely that the
Congress will begin to act on the reauthorization of the Perkins Act sometime
this spring. So please contact your Members of Congress and urge them to reauthorize
the Perkins Act at the level of 1.34 billion. Contact
information for U.S. House Representative
Contact
information for U.S. Senators | Sample
Letter: |
Dear
Rep./Sen. ___________:
I
am writing to urge you to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical
Education Act of 1998 at the level of at least $1.34 billion. Through the Perkins
Act, states are able to support vocational education programs, such as vocational
agriculture, that are instrumental in providing students at the secondary and
post-secondary levels with the required academic, technical and employability
skills necessary to be successful in the workforce. Failure to reauthorize the
Perkins Act would be devastating to vocational education and training programs
in our community and in all American high schools and postsecondary institutions. Please
support the reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education
Act of 1998 and continued funding for this program! Sincerely, (Signature)
(Name)__________________________ (Grange/Grange
name and number) __________________________ |
|
If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by fax: 202-347-1091
or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
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Grange? For all subscription and circulation inquiries, Contact: Jonathan
Hill. |
