House reps seek to boost CTE funding amid HVAC labor crunch

Two U.S. House members last week began circulating a letter requesting increased investment in CTE programs nationwide, as Congress begins drafting a unified federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year. 

Why it matters: Many state and local HVAC programs depend on the Perkins Act — the primary source of CTE funding — to purchase equipment, hire instructors, and support their curriculums. 

• While states received nearly $1.5 billion in Perkins funds this fiscal year, the amount sits hundreds of millions of dollars below levels from 20 years ago when adjusted for inflation, according to ACTE. 

What’s happening: The letter calls for “robust funding” for the Perkins Act in fiscal 2026, which begins on October 1, 2025. 

• “In every Congressional district, CTE programs play a vital role in providing learners and workers pathways that lead to high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand career fields,” it says, “including sectors of our economy that are currently experiencing critical workforce shortages such as the skilled trades.”

Zoom in: The HVAC industry is projected to face over 42,000 annual job openings for technicians and installers over the next eight years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

• Meanwhile, Congress will spend the coming weeks — and possibly months — finalizing a singular federal budget plan that will ultimately determine the authorization amount for Perkins funding. 

What’s next: The letter, which has already received support from consumers nationwide, encourages other House members to sign on by April 24.