Happy New Year, colleagues, In order to enjoy the post-holiday quiet just a little longer, we'll skip the usual first Wednesday policy call this month. Here are two pressing items we'll be keeping an eye on over the next few weeks, and discussing at the policy call on February 7: Appropriations action in the House and the Senate: The continuing resolution that includes the 2024 Labor-H-Ed appropriation expires on February 2. Speaker Johnson has said that he does not want to pass another short-term extension, so at present the possibilities include the following: The Senate Labor-H-Ed Approps bill that passed with bipartisan support last fall; it holds Education funding at 2023 levels The House Labor-H-Ed Approps bill that was debated but not voted on last fall; it cuts Education funding by about 28% A full-year continuing resolution at 2023 levels; this would trigger a sequester (that is, a reduction) of about 10% (see House Democratic staff explanation https://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/FACT%20SHEET%20The%20Bipartisan%20Budget%20Agreement%20A%20Tale%20of%20Two%20Sequestration%20Scenarios.pdf) Shutdown Progress of the WIOA reauthorization legislation, https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6655?s=1&r=1: This bipartisan bill now has 12 Republican and 7 Democratic cosponsors. It has been referred to both the House Ed Workforce Committee and the House Ways & Means Committee. See my message of Dec 8 for links to the bill summary and the section-by-section notes. I'll be in touch again later this month if there is any action to report. I look forward to seeing/hearing from you on February 7. Deborah Deborah Kennedy Executive Director http://www.nationalcoalitionforliteracy.org https://calendly.com/deborah-kennedy-key-words/30min | https://calendly.com/deborah-kennedy-key-words/60-minute-zoom-call