Advocacy Alerts, Updates & News

Seth Hayden At Membership MtgNCDA established its first legislative agenda during the annual Global Conference in Washington, DC in 2008.  Since then, NCDA has made public policy an important cornerstone of its work, as described in NCDA's Philosophy on Public Policy: Advocating for Career Development.

The NCDA Government Relations Committee operates in conjunction with NCDA's Washington D.C.-based firm LobbyIt to support the advocacy efforts of NCDA.

 

 

Resources on Supreme Court Decisions Regarding Race-based Admissions and Student Loan Forgiveness

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) would like to bring attention to additional information and resources regarding recent decisions by the United States Supreme Court that will impact institutions of higher education.

·        ACE Issue Brief Explores Implications of Supreme Court Race in Admissions Ruling

·        CollegeBoard U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Race in Admissions

·        Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces Actions to Promote Educational Opportunity and Diversity in Colleges and Universities

·        Remarks by President Biden on the Supreme Court’s Decision on Affirmative Action

·        Secretary Cardona Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on College Affirmative Action Programs

·        Statement by Vice President Harris on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina

·        Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. V. President and Fellows of Harvard College

·        The Supreme Court Speaks: Understanding the Implications of Race-Conscious Admission Decision

·        "What to Know About Race-Conscious Admissions"

·        "What the Supreme Court Rejection of Affirmative Action Means"

·        Biden’s Loan Forgiveness Program Fails Supreme Court Test. What Now?

·        Biden, President of The United States, Et Al. V. Nebraska Et Al.

·        Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

·        Prepare for Student Loan Payments To Restart FAQ

·        Student Loan Repayment Toolkit

 

Call to Action!

NCDA MEMBERS: Tell Your Story!

At a time when our nation is facing unprecedented challenges, the wide range of services that NCDA members provide will be important factors in helping individuals across the age span.

Congress is often considering proposals that would significantly increase annual funding by billions of dollars for a number of programs, including:

  • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Programs (Adult, Dislocated Worker, State Formula Grants, Youth)
  • Employment Services Grants
  • Apprenticeship Grants
  • Native American Programs
  • Ex-Offender Activities
  • Youth Build
  • JobCorps
  • Career and Technical Education State Grants
  • Adult Education and Family Literacy State Grants
  • K-12 Education
  • Higher Education

Telling your story of the clients you serve and the services you provide will likely be the best way of letting potential clients, your community, and elected leaders know of the services you and other NCDA members provide and at the same time make clear the need for legislation and budgets to fund them. It is very important that you share information about the clients or populations you serve, the services you provide, techniques you use, and successes you have achieved with professional colleagues and your representatives at the state and federal levels.

Contact your members of Congress and let them know how important it is that your efforts are properly resourced as they look to pass legislation to help the workforce. Use the information on these NCDA Advocacy pages to respond to the call to action!

Advocacy News

  • NCDA Executive Director Deneen Pennington, President Sharon Givens, and Public Policy (Government Relations) Committee Chair Diana Bailey met with LobbyIt on the Hill for several key meetings in September 2022. The first meeting was with the new labor staffer for Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a key voice on career development issues, to discuss NCDA’s policy priorities. They then met directly next with Congressman GT Thompson, to discuss shared efforts on the Counseling for Career Choice Act, COTA Act, and National Career Development Month Resolution, as well as his goals to elevate career development next Congress (especially focusing on retired people and those re-entering from the criminal justice system). The group also spoke with staff for Rep. Marionnette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), the Ranking Member of the House Education and Labor Committee’s Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee. Her staff confirmed that they are focused in on a WIOA deal early next Congress. Overall, this was a great opportunity for NCDA to continue to raise their profile on the Hill and build support for initiatives.
  • NCDA hosted a virtual briefing in April 2021 on the Need to Invest in Career Development along with the NCDA 2020 Legislative Award Winners, Representative Langevin (D-RI) and Thompson (R-PA). This was the association’s chance to highlight its work with the Representatives who authored the Counseling for Career Choice Act! Watch the recorded event here.

 

  • Expressing support for designating November 2020 National Career Development Month, a congressional proclamation was made by Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) and was co-sponsored by Representative Glenn Thompson (R-PA). View the proclamation:

    116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. #1239

    Written in conjunction with the NCDA staff, Government Relations Committee, and D.C.-based lobbying firm LobbyIt, the resolution supports the mission of NCDA. Share the good news! Here is the link to the PDF of the Proclamation: Resolution 1239 - November 2020

  • The August 2020 Workforce GPS Newsletter from the U.S. Dept of Labor included the following:
    • Our eleven-minute video provides quick tips for career advisors working with students on career planning or job seekers in an American Job Center (AJC).  Competency models found on the Competency Model Clearinghouse can be used to assist students and job seekers identify occupational knowledge, skills, and abilities; determine individual skill gaps; pinpoint education and training needs; and connect to industry networks. Lauren Fairley, a U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Analyst, and Student Career Counselor, walks viewers through a step-by-step process of how to navigate the competency model website, related career planning resources and tools, and highlights related to career planning sites.
  • Langevin, Thompson Introduce Bill to Strengthen Career Counseling in Middle and High Schools - bipartisan legislation would provide federal funding for states to develop career counseling frameworks - read the Press Release 
  • LobbyIt staff continue to arrange and facilitate meetings with Members of Congress.These meetings often result from communications with the Members of Congress by NCDA members or GR committee members. They are very helpful, because they give us the opportunity to explain NCDA’s diverse membership and its mission and services, and to ask for the legislative and funding support needed to continue those services. These meetings are the result of grassroots advocacy at work!