At a time of intense politicking on Capitol Hill as legislators work feverishly to cut federal spending, and amidst more threats to slash Perkins funding, career and technical education (CTE) professionals from around the country converged on Washington, D.C., to attend the Association for Career and Technical Education's National Policy Seminar (NPS), March 7-9, 2011. Brenda Dann-Messier, assistant secretary of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), and Jane Oates, assistant secretary of the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), were keynote speakers. In addition, panels of congressional staffers and other experts provided CTE professionals with an overview of federal programs and initiatives that relate to CTE and workforce development, and information about proposed funding cuts.