Federal Policy Update
by School's Out Washington | | Posted under
While our legislators in Washington State are taking a break from debating and passing laws in Olympia, a flurry of activity is happening in our nation’s capital. Check-out some of the legislation we’re tracking that would impact afterschool, youth development and summer programs.
- Summer Meals Act, sponsored by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Lisa Murkowski (AK), would enhance the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program. The legislation would help improve nutrition and enhance learning in underserved areas by better integrating summer education and meals programs, making it easier for public-private partner organizations to participate in the summer meals program, and by providing a third meal for children who attend evening enrichment programs. Learn more.
- Supporting Afterschool STEM Act, introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH), would provide resources to support afterschool STEM programing and strengthen state, local and community partnerships that research has demonstrated is critical in building STEM-relevant skills and interest among students. Learn more.
- Innovative STEM Networks Act, introduced by Representative Joe Garcia (FL), would provide competitive grant opportunities to states that form network-based partnerships between schools, universities, business, and community groups to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Learn more.
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate, would reauthorize and update the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and eliminate duplicative programs, improve reporting requirements and develop a set of common performance measures. Learn more.
Be sure to sign-up for our action alerts to stay informed on these and other bills of interest in Congress.
