The 2009 Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) National Policy Seminar (NPS) was one of the most energetic and highly attended advocacy meetings in ACTE's history. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, congressional staffers and policy experts gave insightful presentations during the three-day event held in Arlington, Virginia. Stanley Collender, partner at Qorvis Communications, was just the General Session speaker to kick off the event. Collender, who has a background in public relations, is one of the leading experts on the U.S. budget and the congressional budget process. Collender said that President Obama's budget proposal addresses the current economic situation although it creates a huge $1.75 trillion deficit. This article presents a wrap-up of the event and the highlights of the keynote address delivered by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.