****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 2, Number 6 February 19, 1993 In this issue: (210 lines) PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - BUDGET AND FUND LEGISLATION OERI REAUTHORIZATION BILLS INTRODUCED HOW TO OBTAIN COPIES OF HOUSE DOCUMENTS UPCOMING HEARINGS *************************************************************************** PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE President Clinton's State of the Union address on February 17 outlined an ambitious approach to reducing the federal deficit, while simultaneously stimulating the economy and investing in human capital and infrastructure. Both new tax measures and federal program cuts are included. The overall framework is positive although details relating to libraries are sketchy. The President's plain-spoken approach and the related White House and departmental briefings to coalitions to which ALA belongs, such as the Committee for Education Funding, have been notable for honesty in budget numbers and terminology. For instance, the budget figures released use the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office numbers, and the baseline on which the budget is to be figured for all programs is a true "current services" baseline which includes a 2.7 percent inflation factor above FY93 levels. (Previously an inflation factor was included in the baseline only for the Defense Dept.) Rosy scenarios are noticeably absent. The President proposed a $30 billion economic stimulus proposal in the form of a FY93 emergency supplemental appropriation request. No specific library program funding is included, although there has been some congressional interest in including new LSCA II public library construction and renovation funding in such a package. Areas of the Administration's stimulus proposal which may provide opportunities for libraries include summer 1993 programs for pre-school and school-age children under Chapter 1 (aid for disadvantaged students) and Head Start. Also proposed are additional funds for networking and computing applications through the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and an information highway program at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. All of these are referred to as "stimulus options" with very soft numbers; further details are not yet available. For FY 1994 and beyond, some long-term investment areas have been identified, including Head Start, national service, youth apprenticeship, and jobs programs, as well as certain technology programs such as high- performance computing and information highways. Education appears in both the investment category for new funding and the savings proposal category to reduce the deficit. Some education programs are to be proposed for reduction, elimination, or restructuring, but again no details, and no mention of library programs so far. The new Administration's full budget proposal is expected to be released on March 23. *************************************************************************** LIBRARY OF CONGRESS - BUDGET AND FUND LEGISLATION BUDGET TESTIMONY. On February 27, Katherine Mawdsley, Associate University Librarian for Public Services, University of California at Davis, testified on behalf of ALA and the Association of Research Libraries in support of the Library of Congress FY 1994 budget (and the Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents budget) before the House Legislative Appropriations Subcommittee. Remarks made by Subcommittee Chairman Vic Fazio (D-CA) indicate that it will be a very tough budget year. LC's request for a 9 percent increase is a bare bones budget, but is not likely to be approved in full. LC began its reduced hours schedule (eliminating Tuesday and Friday evening hours) as announced on January 29. REVISED BILL INTRODUCED. On February 4, Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI) introduced S. 345, the Library of Congress Fund Act of 1993, a revised version of legislation from the last Congress to provide LC with authority for the provision of fee-based library products and services. Cosponsors are Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK), Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), Daniel Moynihan (D-NY), and Mark Hatfield (R-OR). See the February 4 _Congressional Record_ (pp. S1459-61) for Senator Pell's introductory statement plus a section-by-section analysis prepared by LC. No companion bill has been introduced in the House. The legislative counsel for the Senate Rules and Administration Committee made a number of changes to the Library's November 16, 1992 draft; most of these are technical in nature. The most significant substantive change in S. 345 removes copyright language to which ALA had objected. ALA's Committee on Legislation is in the process of further analysis of S. 345. Circulation of LC's November 16, 1992 draft at the ALA Midwinter Meeting indicated that ALA members had a range of concerns about how the legislation would be implemented if enacted. *************************************************************************** OERI REAUTHORIZATION BILL INTRODUCED On February 3, Sens. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) and Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) introduced S. 286, a bill to reauthorize funding for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement. This is the same bill reported out of the Subcommittee on Education and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources in the 102nd Congress. For the full text of the bill, as well as Sen. Pell's introductory statement, see the _Congressional Record_, February 3, pp. S1159-74. Among other actions, the bill would establish an Office of Educational Dissemination, which would operate a depository for all Department of Education publications and products and make them available for reproduction. It would also establish a National Education Library. Sen. Pell indicated that he did not plan to act on the bill at the moment, but that it was intended to guide the Clinton administration in formulating its own set of recommendations. A companion bill, HR 856, was introduced in the House on February 4 by Reps. Major Owens (D-NY) and William Ford (D-MI). *************************************************************************** HOW TO OBTAIN COPIES OF HOUSE DOCUMENTS Copies of House documents can be requested from your Representative, or they can be obtained directly from the House Document Room. The House Document Room is located in room B-18, Ford Building (also known as Annex II), 3rd & D Sts., SW, in Washington, DC, directly across the street from the Federal Center SW Metro station. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can also order documents by telephone at 202-225-3456, by fax at 202- 226-4362, or by mail at Document Room, Office of the Doorkeeper, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515-6622. If you order by mail, include a self-addressed return label. Telephone, fax, or mail requests will be returned to customers by mail. The general public may obtain up to 12 different House documents per visit. There is a limit of 2 copies, total, per document. The following documents are maintained for distribution by the House Document Room during the 103rd Congress: For the 103rd Congress House Bills and Joint, Simple, and Concurrent Resolutions For the 102nd and 103rd Congress House Reports and Documents For the 101st through Public and Private Laws 103rd Congresses (also available at the Senate Document Room) The House Document Room does not stock Hearings, Committee Prints, Bill analyses or summaries, the _Congressional Record_ the _Federal Register_, Executive regulations, or Treaties. The House Document Room will not be able to fill your request unless you provide the numbers of the requested items. For information on Bill, Report, Document, and Law numbers, or for information on the status of legislation, contact your Representative. *************************************************************************** UPCOMING HEARINGS The following hearings were announced in the _Congressional Record_ of February 18, 1993. Locations, dates, and times are subject to change. SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION. Hearing on S. 4, to promote the industrial competitiveness and economic growth of the United States by strengthening and expanding the civilian technology programs of the Department of Commerce. Wednesday, February 24, 9:30 am, SR-253. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR. Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education. To continue hearings on HR 6, Elementary , Secondary Education Amendments of 1993 (reform proposals for Chapter 1). Thursday, February 25, 10:00 am, 2175 Rayburn. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE. Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance. Oversight hearing on the national communications and information infrastructure and health care. Tuesday, February 23, following a full Committee meeting which begins at 10:00 am, 2123 Rayburn. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY. Subcommittee on Technology, Environment and Aviation. To continue hearings on HR 820, National Competitiveness Act of 1993. Tuesday, February 23, 1:30 pm, and Thursday, February 25, 9:00 am, 2318 Rayburn. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. 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