State: Engage in Quorum Campaigns!
We need you to advocate for Iowa community colleges! We have two critical campaigns happening right now that amount to millions of dollars of funding at stake. Be sure to send a message for both “Preserve 260E Industrial New Jobs Training Program” and “House Property Tax Impact on Iowa Community Colleges.” And please encourage folks in your circle who care about community colleges to write a message, too!
Property Tax Reform
Earlier this week, the Iowa Senate passed their version of property tax reform on a 41-4 vote. Thank you to all our advocates who reached out to their Senator earlier this week to let them know how this will impact Iowa’s community colleges. Now is the time to reach out to your Iowa House Representative and ensure they know how this will impact their community college!
Preserve 260E
There are active bills in the Iowa House and Senate that would eliminate the 260E Industrial New Jobs Training Program, and subsequently, through the same funding mechanism, the 260F Iowa Jobs Training Program and the 84E Apprenticeship Program.
Legislators are asking to hear from you. Business owners, economic developers, community college employees, and students can all attest to their own opportunities, successes, and results. Every Iowan, especially those of us in rural parts of the state, benefits from the economic impact of these programs.
The end of the legislative session is looming, and these are our final chances to keep community college funding. While overtime is possible, and even likely, these bills could move forward at any time.
Having hundreds of Iowans speaking up for community colleges is our best chance to have these bills amended before it’s too late. We appreciate your diligence in sending these messages yourself and sharing our action center with fellow community college supporters.
Federal: President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request
Last week, on April 3rd, President Donald Trump released his budget request for fiscal year 2027. Importantly, the administration is requesting $76.5 billion for the Department of Education, a decrease of $2.3 billion from last year. While this is a smaller decrease than the one proposed last year, likely in part because of Pell Grant Funding, the other portions of the budget closely follow many of the other requests made by the administration for fiscal year 2026.
The budget would eliminate many programs that are critical to community colleges, including the elimination of funding for TRIO, GEAR-UP, Adult Basic Education, Minority Serving Institutions (MSI), Strengthening Institutions, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants and Childcare Access Means Parents in School program. On the other hand, the budget proposes an increase of $10.5 billion for the Pell Grant program to help cover its current budgetary shortfall. While alarming, this is only the proposed budget from the President, and it is Congress’s job to pass the spending bills.
Fortunately, last year Congress rejected many of the administration’s proposed cuts and funded most of these critical programs at the same levels as the previous year. That’s why it is vital that we continue our advocacy with Members of Congress about the importance of these programs.