Her Royal Highness Patty Murray
Chair
Senate Appropriations Committee
National Diet Building S-146A
Washington DC 20510
Her Royal Highness Susan Collins
Vice-president
Senate Appropriations Committee
National Diet Building S-128
Washington DC 20510
His Highness Tom Cole
Chair
House Appropriations Committee
National Diet Building H-307
Washington DC 20515
Her Royal Highness Rosa DeLauro
Ranking member
House Appropriations Committee
1036 Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Chairman Murray, Chairman Cole, Vice Chairman Collins, and Ranking Member DeLauro:
As co-chair of the National Governors Association's Education, Workforce, and Community Investment Task Force, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you our priorities as the committees continue to develop and consider the fiscal year 2025 (FY25) appropriations bill. welcome.
NGA utilizes a task force structure to establish a more streamlined, governor-led approach; Implement federal policy matters that are priorities for the Governor. Three Task Forces – Education, Workforce, and Community Investment. Public health and disaster response. Economic Development and Revitalization – Works in a bipartisan manner to coordinate NGA's efforts on federal policy issues.
The Education, Workforce, and Community Investment Task Force has jurisdiction over issues in the areas of workforce and workforce development, career and technical skills, K-12 education, postsecondary education, criminal justice, housing, and agriculture. I am. Congress will provide critical support for states and territories in addressing academic recovery, supporting workforce development and job creation, and funding efforts to revitalize communities affected by the pandemic. We are partners. Therefore, for the fiscal year 2025 appropriations process, NGA requests that the following funding activities be prioritized:
- All programs below Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – The Governor strongly encourages continued support for ESEA Title I grants to states and IDEA Part B grants to states. As COVID-19 relief funds wind down, governors will maintain K-12 investments, support educator recruitment and retention efforts, and support academic and mental health outcomes for students and staff. Focused on addressing needs. It is also important that Congress continues to invest in programs such as, but not limited to, student aid and state grants for academic enrichment21.cent Support for Century Community Learning Centers, the Literacy Education Grant Program, ImpactAid, and the Effective Educator Development Program.
- School-Based Mental Health Services Specialist Grant and School-Based Mental Health Services Grant – As mental health challenges continue for students, faculty and staff, investing in school-based mental health services professional grants and school-based mental health services grants remain a top priority for governors. These programs help provide critical mental health infrastructure in schools, and the Governor is asking the Legislature to continue strong support for these two of his grant programs.
- State grants under the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act – The Governor will leverage Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding to address key CTE initiatives, including expanding dual and concurrent enrollment, strengthening the talent pipeline, and establishing work-based learning pathways. I'm here. These investments will help schools address academic recovery, improve achievement rates, and increase high school completion rates, while also fostering innovation within schools and providing students with hands-on learning in real-world settings. We provide an experience. It is critical that Perkins funding remains strong to ensure our young people are adequately prepared to succeed in the 21st century economy.
- Pell Grant – Governor prioritizes innovative post-secondary affordable pathways for state or territory students and welcomes Congress' continued support for Pell Grant programs to complement these efforts doing. Pell Grants are the greatest tool at the Legislature's disposal to improve the postsecondary attainment potential of students with the highest financial need, and the Governor urges continued support for Pell Grant funds. I am.
- State longitudinal data systems and workforce data quality initiatives. – The Governor appreciates the federal support states and territories are receiving to establish and build longitudinal data systems for early childhood, K-12, post-secondary education and the workforce. . These data systems are essential tools that help identify and implement effective investments in education and workforce programs. However, stronger support is needed to further strengthen and modernize data systems to maximize their value.
- All programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) – Because of historically tight labor markets, governors rely on the public workforce system to work with employers to fill critical vacancies. The WIOA State Plan, submitted by the governor earlier this year for the 2024-2027 planning cycle, includes, among other key initiatives, the Legislature's plan to maximize infrastructure, chip manufacturing, and energy investments. It included a description of how states and territories plan to use WIOA funds. By investing in WIOA at a level that takes into account inflation, he will ensure that states and territories can implement their state plans to train workers, address labor shortages, promote labor force participation, It will ensure that we have the resources we need to promote economic access. chance. The Governor is also asking appropriators to consider providing greater funding flexibility across WIOA Title I programs to enable states and territories to pursue innovative reforms to their workforce systems. .
- Funding apprenticeships – Governors are turning to apprenticeships to address labor shortages in both industries and sectors that have not traditionally taken advantage of workforce schemes.
- Apprenticeship models in technology, education, medicine, etc. As the cost of college continues to rise, apprenticeships offer great value, opening a more diverse workforce to debt-free, family-supporting jobs. Congress should maintain support for these investments as governors seek to increase the number of apprenticeships in their states and territories and foster innovation across industries.
- Investments in state and territory unemployment insurance systems – The Governor supports continued investments to support state and territorial unemployment insurance systems. Investments like this are essential to ensure states and territories have the resources they need to combat all types of unemployment fraud, respond quickly to changing economic conditions, and protect taxpayers' money.
- Funding agricultural programs – The Governor sees firsthand the value of a strong agricultural economy and the important role Congress plays in investing in American agriculture and supporting our nation’s farmers and ranchers. The Governor will support important USDA initiatives, including market access programs, the Agricultural Research Service, expanding commercial agricultural export markets through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and monitoring and preventing invasive pests, seeds, diseases, and forests. We support funding. Implementation of conservation programs through management, water sustainability and natural resource conservation services.
- Support for rural America – The Governor recognizes the importance of USDA Rural Development and has established the Office of Rural Public Works, the Office of Rural Housing, and the Office of Rural Business and Cooperatives to pursue partnerships with rural communities seeking to obtain federal resources. Request continued support for programs managed by. The partnerships supported by these programs help foster sustainable growth and improve quality of life in rural areas across the country.
- Funding for affordable housing assistance – Given the current state of the housing market, governors will establish and maintain affordable housing through zoning reforms, enhanced financing, and dedicated funding to make it more affordable to live and work in their states and territories. We are strengthening our efforts. The Governor supports continued investment in the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), housing choice vouchers, homeless assistance grants, senior housing and disability housing programs. Because these programs help ensure affordable housing in all states and territories. And for those most at risk.
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program – The Governor will continue to support vital annual grants to state and local governments for a wide range of community and economic development purposes. CDBG grants expand affordable housing opportunities, create jobs, and stabilize neighborhoods across the country. Specifically, funds allocated through the State and Small Cities Program ensure that housing, public facilities, and economic development projects benefit low- and moderate-income people. Therefore, the Governor urges the Legislature to continue to provide consistent funding for the Community Development Block Grant Program.
- Grants to state, territory, and local law enforcement agencies – The Governor strongly supports investment in state and local law enforcement. Funding for programs within the Department of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to support a variety of activities needed to keep communities safe, including law enforcement hiring and training and efforts to prevent violence in schools and communities. It provides states and territories with valuable resources to help them. The Governor also supports funding for the Violence Against Women Act Prevention and Prosecution Program, the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant, and the Safe Neighborhoods Projects Program.
On behalf of all Governors, I want to thank you for your continued support of NGA's top priorities in fiscal year 2025 and your focus on funding our nation's critical needs.
Sincerely,
Idaho Governor Brad Little
Education, Workforce, and Community Investment Task Force Co-Chair
National Governors Association
Governor Albert Bryan, U.S. Virgin Islands
Education, Workforce, and Community Investment Task Force Co-Chair
National Governors Association
