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of student financial aid, which would increase the total maximum Pell grant award to $7,395 for the 2023 – 2024 school year. This is the largest increase in the maximum Pell grant award since the 2009 – 2010 school year. Career Training: The bill includes $2.2 billion, a $100 million increase, for Career, Technical and Adult Education, which supports the workforce and economy by training young people to fill in-demand, twenty-first century jobs. Community Services Block Grants: The bill includes $804 million for the program which provides critical support for rural Oregon communities, an increase of $34 million. Merkley led 30 Senators, including Senator Wyden, in a letter to the committee pushing to preserve and increase funding for the program. Community Service: The bill funds AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers at $103 million; Senior Corps programs at $237 million; and State AmeriCorps grants at $557 million Transportation Capital Investment Grant Program: The bill includes nearly $2.210 billion for the program, which provides funding for major transit investments that support sustainable transportation and reduced congestion in cities like Portland, Eugene, and Salem. RAISE Grants: The program received an $800 million investment for FY23, in addition to $2.5 billion available in FY23 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This critical transportation grants program has helped fund projects across Oregon, such as over $13 million for the McGilchrist Complete Street Improvements in Salem. Essential Air Service and Contract Towers: Merkley and Wyden secured $354,827,000 for the Essential Air Service. The Essential Air Service program supports flights between the City of Pendleton and Portland International Airport, a vital connection to support economic development across Eastern Oregon. Additionally, the bill provides $187.8 million for FAA Contract Towers. There are six contract towers across Oregon, and this funding ensures their continued operation. n
Child Care and Early Education: The bill includes over $20 billion to support access to child care and early education nationwide, including over $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, a 30% increase, $12 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start, and $315 million for preschool development grants to build or enhance preschool program infrastructure. Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Education: The bill includes over $52 million for programs for migrant students and seasonal farmworkers. Through this program, higher education and non-profit organizations can receive funding to give migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their children the opportunity to attend higher education or earn their GED. Oregon State University, Chemeketa Community College, Portland Community College, Treasure Valley Community College, and community-based organizations in Oregon receive funds through this program. Accessible Education: The bill includes $15.15 billion, nearly a $1 billion increase, for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) state grants program, including funding to assist states in providing a free, appropriate education for children with disabilities and provide support services for over 7.6 million students nationwide, including those participating in early intervention and preschool programs.
Student Support: The bill includes $1.2 billion for TRIO, a suite of eight educational programs that supports students from first-generation college students and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds; as the first person in his family to graduate from college, Merkley knows firsthand the value of this type of support and has been a fierce advocate for the funding. The bill also includes a $500 increase in the maximum Pell Grant award, the cornerstone
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The Business Review | January 2023
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