SENATOR COLLINS SUPPORTS PERKINS PROGRAM

Washington, D.C. - Senator Susan Collins is working to ensure adequate funding for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical program in a letter to the Senate Budget Committee regarding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 budget. Senator Collins has been a long time supporter of the Perkins program, which benefits high school and community college students throughout Maine and the country.

"The vocational and technical programs supported by Perkins grants are valuable to the development of our nation's workforce system. The Perkins program is vital to providing Maine students with the educational resources and opportunities they need to compete and succeed in the 21st century economy," Senator Collins said. "I will continue to support funding for the Perkins act so this valuable program might continue to prepare millions of Americans for the workplace."

Last year, Maine received approximately $5.8 million in Perkins Voc Ed State grants and an additional $500,000 under the Perkins Tech-Prep State grants program. In Maine, Perkins grants support career and technical education efforts at both the high school and community college level.

In addition to requesting funding for the Perkins program, the Senator strongly supported reauthorization of the Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act. The Senate unanimously passed this bill, ensuring that the Perkins program will remain intact through 2011.

###