================================================================= ALAWON Volume 5, Number 33 ISSN 1069-7799 May 24, 1996 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: BUDGET RESOLUTION PASSES SENATE ACTION NEEDED: THANK SENATORS AND EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR SENATE HIGHER LEVEL OF FUNDING ALA PRESS RELEASE RE-POSTED: LIBRARIANS URGED TO STAND UP FOR KIDS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT GAINS SPONSORS ACTION NEEDED: THANK CONGRESSMEN FOR SPONSORSHIP _________________________________________________________________ BUDGET RESOLUTION PASSES SENATE As one of its final acts before recess, the Senate on May 23, passed its version of the Budget Resolution (H. Con. Res. 178). The Senate voted to increase non-defense discretionary spending by an additional $5 billion, which would include $1.7 billion for education, a portion of which would go to libraries. The House-passed Budget Resolution is $2.5 billion below the Senate level for education. When the Senate and House return, conferees will be appointed to agree to a conferenced version of the Budget Resolution. The bill does not require approval from the President, but establishes the spending limit for the fiscal year. In the annual process, the total funding level is divided up in 602 (b) allocations made by Appropriators for each Subcommitee. The House 602 (b) allocations, figured on the lower House Budget are below those of FY96 and, according to an Administration letter sent to the minority, "do not provide the resources needed in fiscal 1997 for high-priority programs." Senate action is good news for education groups who have been trying to get the message across since last year of the importance of investment in education. The Committee for Education Funding, an education coalition to which ALA belongs, is encouraging letters of support for the Senate higher level of investment in education and libraries. Because of the one time only savings that were used to fund some programs in FY96, it is estimated that at least $3 billion in additional funds will be needed to sustain and enhance education. ACTION NEEDED: Library supporters should thank Senators for their attention to education and request that the Senate higher level of funding support prevail. _________________________________________________________________ ALA PRESS RELEASE RE-POSTED For Immediate Release May 22, 1996 Contact: Linda Wallace 312-280-5042 LIBRARIANS URGED TO STAND UP FOR KIDS The American Library Association (ALA) and its three youth divisions, the Association for Library Service to Children, the American Association of School Librarians and Youth Adult Library Services Association are encouraging librarians and trustees to take part in Stand for Children Day sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund on Saturday, June 1, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The event is intended as a national day of commitment to children, a celebration and a day of community renewal. Pamela Stovalls, outreach coordinator at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library in Washington, is coordinating a delegation from ALA which includes participation in the children's march. Those attending are encouraged to wear t-shirts and carry signs with messages in support for libraries and children. A "Children's March" is scheduled at noon. For further information about participating in ALA's delegation, contact Mary Costabile in the ALA Washington Office, at 800-941-8478, ext. 216, e-mail: mrc@alawash.org. There is a Stand Up for Libraries Web site at http://www.stand.org. _________________________________________________________________ YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT GAINS SPONSORS Thanks to visits made by library supporters, it seems that H.R. 2807, the Youth Development Community Block Grant, has added many more names to the sponsor list. It appears that bill sponsors are pressing for a hearing date with the House Economic and Educational Opportunities Committee sometime in June. The bill seeks to consolidate many programs for youth ages 6-18 into a community-based block grant which would be targeted to that age group for prevention programs. ACTION NEEDED: If your member of Congress has signed on to the bill as a result of your legislative day visit, please remember to thank him or her. If the promise to co-sponsor was made but not as yet accomplished, a pleasant reminder may be in order. The House bill is similar to S. 673, which has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. The following is a list of sponsors of the House bill, H.R. 2807: J.C. Watts (R-OK) Main Sponsor Richard Baker (R-LA) James Barcia (D-MI) Bob Barr (R-GA) Sanford Bishop (D-GA) Dick Chrysler (R-MI) Bob Clement (D-TN) Gary Condit (D-CA) Pat Danner (D-MO) "Kika" de la Garza (D-TX) Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL) Calvin Dooley (D-CA) Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS) Chaka Fattah (D-PA) Victor Frazer (D-VI) Martin Frost (D-TX) Sam Gibbons (D-FL) Benjamin Gilman (R-NY) Gene Green (D-TX) Duncan Hunter (R-CA) Bob Inglis (R-SC) Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) John Lewis (D-GA) Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) Nita Lowey (D-NY) Thomas Manton (D-NY) Don Manzullo (R-IL) John McHugh (R-NY) Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) Michael McNulty (D-NY) Jan Meyers (R-KS) Susan Molinari (R-NY) Sue Myrick (R-NC) Richard Neal (D-MA) Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) Charlie Norwood (R-GA) Ed Pastor (D-AZ) Donald Payne (D-NJ) Thomas Petri (R-WI) Jack Quinn (R-NY) Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) Marge Roukema (R-NJ) Jose Serrano (D-NY) Chris Shays (R-CT) Chris Smith (R-NJ) Gerald Solomon (R-NJ) Steve Stockman (R-TX) James Talent (R-MO) Mac Thornberry (R-TX) Edolphus Towns (D-NY) Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) James T. Walsh (R-NY) Curt Weldon (R-PA) The coalition of youth organizations in favor of the legislation is suggesting a call-in day on Thursday, May 30, for further sponsorship and for movement on both House and Senate bills. The capitol switchboard number is: (202) 224-3121. _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname]" to . ALAWON archives gopher.ala.org; select Washington Office Newsline. Web page HTTP://www.ala.org/alawashington.html. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Contributors: All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================