U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Urges Restored Funding for Career and Technical Education Grant Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Co-Chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, has joined a Senate effort to make a strong investment in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins) by restoring funding for the State Grant program to the pre-sequestration level of $1.23 billion. The group of 31 senators are advocating for the much-needed investment in next year’s budget. 

“Perkins CTE programs provide a substantial return on investment while consistently evolving to meet the needs of students and employers,” the senators wrote in a letter to the senate appropriations members, who later this year will set funding levels for senior programs. “These programs teach students transferable skills that ensure college and career readiness and retrain adult workers who need to adapt their skills for a changing job market.”

Baldwin has been a strong advocate for Wisconsin community and technical colleges, receiving the Association for Career and Technical Education’s 2014 “Policymaker of the Year” award for her work on behalf of career and technical education. In February, Baldwin introduced the Career Ready Act, legislation that would help ensure students are college and career-ready by strengthening school counseling programs and encouraging states to keep track of career readiness factors implemented in school districts.

In addition to Baldwin the letter was signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Al Franken (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Mark Warner (D-VA).

Senator Baldwin is a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and is committed to bringing Wisconsin values to the national conversation on moving the economy forward. 

Download the letter here.