Smucker Advances Priorities in Appropriations Legislation

Washington—Legislative priorities advanced Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) have been included in H.R. 5894, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024.

Smucker, a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, offered an amendment ensuring that students continuing their education in a career and technical education program remain eligible for federal financial aid. Recently, the Biden administration released a regulation limiting access to federal financial aid for students attending certain post-secondary education programs. Smucker successfully offered an amendment to block the implementation of that portion of the rule.

Speaking in favor of his amendment, Smucker said: “There is no mistaking that our workforce is in a dire state. There are 9.6 million open jobs across the country right now and only 5.4 million individuals looking for jobs. There are not enough people to fill all our open positions. Employers are keenly aware of this, and it’s a message that I hear over and over again in my district. [The Administration’s rule] is a huge disservice to students, this will mean less students will be able to use that pathway for a great career because they may not have the resources to pay.”

Click here to watch Smucker’s remarks offered during consideration of his amendment.

Also included in the appropriations legislation, is Smucker’s bipartisan Hospital Adoption Education Act, which aims to provide the health care industry with information and understanding about adoption-sensitive care. Most health care staff have not received education on adoption sensitivities and are unaware of how their words and actions could impact a prospective birth mother. Providing training for health care professionals and disseminating best practices to hospitals and birthing centers throughout the country will improve overall long-term health and emotional outcomes for the birth mother, the child she placed, and the adoptive family.

Additionally, the underlying appropriations legislation provides support for critical workforce development and career and technical education programs. Smucker fought to ensure the Department of Labor’s Adult Education State Grants program would prioritize funds for workforce development initiatives that provide bilingual education and skills training for needed careers and target low-income individuals. The legislation remains under consideration in the House of Representatives.