****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ISSN 1069-7799 ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 3, Number 1 January 3, 1994 In this issue: (234 lines) WRAP-UP ON TECHNOLOGY AND NETWORKING BILLS WRAP-UP ON EDUCATION BILLS *************************************************************************** WRAP-UP ON TECHNOLOGY AND NETWORKING BILLS NETWORKING APPLICATIONS BILLS Bills to follow up the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 by authorizing applications of networking technology in education, health care, libraries, and government information passed the House and came close to floor action in the Senate just before adjournment. Action in the Senate will resume in the 1994 session. The House passed H.R. 1757, the National Information Infrastructure Act of 1993, in July. The bill defines the National Research and Education Network as a program with three components: (1) networking research and development, (2) experimental test-bed networks, and (3) network access support. Network applications would be supported for education, especially K-12, health care, libraries, and government information. A connections program at the National Science Foundation would foster local networks in communities for connecting colleges and schools, libraries, museums, and state and local governments to each other and connecting these entities (or organizations representing these entities) to the Internet. H.R. 1757 also includes programs to train teachers, students, librarians, and government personnel. H.R. 1757 was supported strongly by ALA, and by a variety of other groups and constituencies. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved S. 4, the National Competitiveness Act, in May and issued its report (S. Rept. 103-113) in July. Title VI of S. 4 would establish an Information Technology Applications Research Program comparable to H.R. 1757's provisions. (Another House-passed bill, H.R. 820, the National Competitiveness Act, is comparable to titles I-V of S. 4.) Title VI of S. 4 would promote the development of high-performance computing and networking technologies in education, manufacturing, health care, libraries, and government information dissemination. S. Rept. 103- 113 notes that "new ways can be developed to use high-speed computer networks to link high schools and elementary schools so that teachers and students can communicate with their colleagues around the country, access digital libraries of information, and consult with outside experts....Advanced supercomputers and networks could allow a local library or school to have access to the holdings of the Library of Congress." The digital libraries application of S. 4 includes a component called electronic libraries in the states which is clearly taken from Sen. Robert Kerrey's (D-NE) S. 626, the Electronic Library Act. S. 4 as approved by the Senate committee also contains language prohibiting federal support of data communications networks operated by governmental entities, and making it difficult for library and education networks and state library and education agencies to obtain federal funds to support network connections and services for libraries and schools. The library, education, and research communities opposed this language and urged the substitution of more flexible language from H.R. 1757. This approach seemed on track for a while, but Senate action on S. 4 was delayed due to other differences of opinion, including how much direction should be given to federal agencies in the application areas. Despite the fact that the legislation originated in the last Congress with then-Senator Gore, the Clinton Administration was pushing for a revised title VI with brief authority but no congressional direction for demonstration projects in education, health care, libraries, and other areas. A number of versions of title VI were drafted; the version cleared for floor action was a compromise that was neither a bare-bones approach nor as detailed as H.R. 1757. However, time ran out, and the first session adjourned without Senate action on S. 4. NTIA PILOT PROJECTS The House passed by voice vote on November 8 a bill (H.R. 2639) to authorize a new Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Program in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the Department of Commerce. The NTIA matching grants authorized under H.R. 2639 could be used to assist health care providers, educational institutions, research facilities, libraries, museums, state and local governments, and other social service and public information providers to connect to networks and gain access to existing and new sources of information. Projects are also to foster interoperability standards, improved delivery of social services, and universal availability and use of an advanced telecommunications and information infrastructure, especially for traditionally underserved populations. NTIA funds would normally not exceed 50 percent of the cost of a project, but could be up to 75 percent in "extraordinary circumstances," and up to 100 percent of the cost of planning grants or studies. Training expenses are specifically eligible for assistance. Projects are to utilize commercially available network services to the extent that such services meet applicant needs in the most efficient and economical manner, and must comply with regulations designed to prevent applicants from using commercial resale of excess capacity to compete unfairly with providers of telecommunications services. Regulations are to provide a preference for projects that increase utilization and efficiency of existing telecommunications and information facilities. The bill would authorize $100 million for FY95 and $150 million for FY96. Congress appropriated $26 million in FY94 for this program, but implementation (other than planning grants) must await Senate action on H.R. 2639. *************************************************************************** WRAP-UP ON EDUCATION BILLS ESEA REAUTHORIZATION The Improving America's Schools Act of 1993 (H.R. 3130), the Administration's proposal for reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, was introduced on September 23, but the House el/sec education subcommittee postponed action on the bill until the second session. The Senate has not yet begun work on ESEA reauthorization, but Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced the Administration's proposal as S. 1513 on October 4. H.R. 3130 would make major changes to the Chapter 1 program of aid to disadvantaged schoolchildren and extend the program for ten years, while extending other ESEA programs for five years. The bill includes no specific provisions relating to school library media centers or school library resources. The Chapter 2 school block grant, which can be used for school library resources as well as other purposes, would not be continued. In its place would be a teacher training program (a new title II, Improving Teaching and Learning). This proposed change has caused concern on the part of many elementary and secondary education groups, as well as library groups, since the proposal would eliminate the current seven uses for the Chapter 2 block grant funds. Under title III, Expanding Opportunities for Learning, Part A--Putting Technology to Work for All Students--H.R. 3130 says that "technology can provide students, parents, teachers, and other education professionals with increased access to information, instruction, and educational services in schools and other settings, including homes, libraries, preschool and child-care facilities, and postsecondary institutions". Any grants for state programs in this section will require matching funds, either "cash or in-kind contributions, fairly valued." Authorization levels for this section would be "such sums" as necessary. SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA ACT The list of cosponsors to H.R. 1151 and S. 266, the Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Act, continues to grow, with 59 Representatives signed on and ten Senators. The ALA Washington Office continues to get blind copies of letters requesting legislators to cosponsor. To ensure that these bills are incorporated in larger legislation such as ESEA reauthorization, it is necessary to enlarge the grassroots effort. Create coalitions by working with local PTAs as well as members of other community groups to request cosponsors. The November 1993 issue of _School Library Journal_ has a series of excellent articles about the legislation, and includes Valerie Wilford's July 21 testimony for ALA's American Association of School Librarians on a technology bill, S. 1040. No further action has been taken on S. 1040 since then. GOALS 2000 The Goals 2000: Educate America Act, which aims to improve learning and teaching by providing a national framework for education reform, is the Administration's top priority education proposal. The legislation passed the House on October 13 as an amended version of H.R. 1804, but the Senate version (S. 1150) became embroiled in a controversy over proposed state opportunity-to learn standards. A redrafted bill, retaining the national standards but eliminating the state standards, was being prepared at the end of the session. During this process, Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) sought support from ALA and other groups to incorporate, in an amendment to the proposed new version of S. 1150, the following language: "the extent to which school facilities provide a safe and secure environment for learning and instruction and have the requisite libraries, laboratories, and other resources necessary to provide an opportunity to learn..." The new bill has not yet been introduced, but the Senate has agreed to take it up on January 25. According to her staff, Senator Moseley-Braun still intends to offer the amendment in the second session. Appropriations for the Goals 2000 legislation were approved at $105 million for FY94 and will be available if the bill is enacted by April 1. OERI REAUTHORIZATION H.R. 856, the legislation which would reauthorize the Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), was approved by the House Education and Labor Committee (H. Rept. 103-209) and passed the House on August 2. The Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee on November 16 approved its version (S. 286, S. Rept. 103-183), and also approved H.R. 856. No further action was taken by the Senate. Both bills would renew and amend the educational research activities of the Department, improve dissemination of research results, reauthorize the ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) system, and establish a National Education Library. The Senate report on S. 286 states "The Committee has been very concerned that research and development supported by OERI is often isolated and fragmented, and as a result, not used to its fullest potential. S. 286 requires that the long-term agenda be designed to serve as a six year projection of the goals and direction of OERI. The agenda should create a cohesive and integrated strategy for promoting educational excellence." *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Internet: alawash@alawash.org; Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363. Editor: Carol C. Henderson (cch@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. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your name]" to listserv@uicvm (Bitnet) or listserv@uicvm.uic.edu (internet). Back issues and other documents are available from the list server. To find out what's available, send the message "send ala-wo filelist" to the listserv. The ALA-WO filelist contains the list of files with the exact filename and filetype. To get a particular file, issue the command "send filename filetype" to the listserv. Do not include the quotes in your commands. *************************************************************************** ***End of file******************End of file******************End of file***