****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 2, Number 40 September 17, 1993 In this issue: SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES LIBRARY FUNDING POSTAL REVENUE FORGONE - ACTION NEEDED *************************************************************************** SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES LIBRARY FUNDING On September 15 the Senate Appropriations Committee approved H.R. 2518, the FY94 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill. The bill is expected to be reach the Senate floor during the last week of September. If the bill is not enacted before October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, a continuing resolution will have to be passed. This is the last appropriations bill awaiting passage. Department of Education library programs would be funded at the same levels as in the House-passed H.R. 2518, except that LSCA II, Public Library Construction, would be increased by $2.4 million to $19 million. Ranking minority member Mark Hatfield (R-OR) deserves thanks for this increase. The Senate report (S. Rept. 103-143) on the bill said that the "Committee agrees with the recommendation of the administration and the House to eliminate funding for the foreign language materials program" (LSCA V). Amounts for selected programs include: PROGRAM (amounts in thousands) FY94 ADMIN. FY94 HSE. FY94 SEN. REQUEST PASSED COMMITTEE LIBRARY SERVICES & CONSTRUCTION ACT $114,749 $127,658 $130,074 Title I, public. lib. svcs. 95,000 83,227 83,227 II, pub. lib. construc. 0 16,584 19,000 III, interlibrary coop. 19,749 19,749 19,749 IV, Indian library svcs. * * * V, foreign language mats. 0 0 0 VI, library literacy progs. 0 8,098 8,098 *2 % of LSCA I, II, & III HIGHER EDUCATION ACT 0 18,425 18,425 Title II-A, college library tech. 0 3,873 3,873 II-B, library education 0 4,960 4,960 II-B, research & demo. 0 2,802 2,802 II-C, research libraries 0 5,808 4,808 VI sec 607, foreign res. mat. 0 982 982 ESEA Ch. 2 school block grant 435,461 394,425 394,696 Natl. Ctr. for Educ. Statistics 125,000 77,850 77,850 NCLIS 904 904 904 NLM & MLAA 133,349 118,481 120,481 Concerning the HEA II-B research and demonstration program, the Senate report states: "The Committee directs the Secretary to use $2,500,000 of the funds provided to continue the demonstration begun in fiscal year 1993 of a statewide bibliographic data base providing online and dial-in access through a fiber optic network housing a point of presence in every county and connecting library services in every municipality." A large number of applicants submitted proposals for the FY93 award, which has not yet been announced. The Senate appropriations committee also added $116 million for the Administration's proposed Goals 2000: Educate America Act. This legislation (S. 1150 and H.R. 1804) is working its way through the authorization process, but has not yet been enacted. The House appropriations bill did not set aside funds for this item. *************************************************************************** POSTAL REVENUE FORGONE - ACTION NEEDED The next few days represent the last chance to urge congressional decisionmakers to retain the ability of publishers and distributors to use the 4th class library postal rate for materials sent to libraries and schools. A restructuring of nonprofit rates is included in the Senate- passed version of HR 2403, the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations Bill for FY94. During floor debate on August 3, Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS), Ted Stevens (R-AK), and Christopher Bond (R-MO) discussed an amendment that would revise the restructuring plan to allow the 4th-class library rate to continue to be used by commercial publishers and distributors to mail items ordered or requested by libraries or educational institutions. Otherwise publishers and distributors would have to use the higher-cost book rate, and the difference would undoubtedly be passed on to the recipient libraries and schools. All three Senators shared the sentiments expressed by Senator Bond: "I hope we will be able to agree in conference that the revenue forgone reform package was not intended to impose any additional and unfair cost burdens on libraries, schools, universities, and colleges for the books and materials that they may order and receive through the mail." Postal appropriations subcommittee chairman Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ) said he would do his "level best...to attempt to find an accommodation here." The Senate went on to pass H.R. 2403. The House-passed H.R. 2403 does not include the postal revenue forgone reform package, although the House initiated the restructuring of nonprofit rates and passed it earlier as part of another bill. ACTION NEEDED: House-Senate conferees on H.R. 2403 will meet next week, with completion scheduled for September 23; constituents are urged to call their Washington, D.C. offices (202-224-3121 for the Senate operator; 202- 225-3121 for the House operator). Urge conferees on H.R. 2403 to adjust the postal rate reform provisions to ensure that publishers and distributors can continue to use the 4th-class library rate for items ordered or requested by libraries and educational institutions. Every extra dollar spent on postage is a dollar less for library materials. Conferees on H.R. 2403 are Senators Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), J. Robert Kerrey (D-NE), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Christopher Bond (R-MO), Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY), and Mark Hatfield (R-OR); and Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), George Darden (D-GA), John Olver (D-WA), Tom Bevill (D-AL), Martin Sabo (D-MN), William Natcher (D-KY), Jim Lightfoot (R-IA), Frank Wolf (R-VA), Ernest Istook (R- OK), and Joseph McDade (R-PA). *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363; Internet: alawash@alawash.org. Editor and List Owner: Fred King (fdk@alawash.org). All or part of ALAWON may be redistributed, with appropriate credits. ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. 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