ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 11, Number 37
April 25, 2002

In This Issue: 

[1] GPO FY2003 APPROPRIATIONS HEARING
[2] DEADLINE ANNOUNCED FOR EARLY READING FIRST PROGRAM (CFDA No. 84.359)

On Wednesday, April 24, Robert T. Mansker, Deputy Public Printer and Francis Buckley, Jr. Superintendent of Documents presented the FY2003 budget request before the House Subcommittee on Legislative of the House Appropriations Committee.  They were joined by William Guy, Budget Officer and Andrew Sherman, Director of the Office of Congressional, Legislative and Public Affairs.

Representative Charles Taylor (R-NC), Chair of the Subcommittee was joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and James Moran (D-VA).  

Mr. Mansker presented GPO's budget request for a total of $129.3 million, $95.2 million for Congressional Printing and Binding and $34.1 million for the Salaries and Expenses Appropriation for the Superintendent of Documents.  Mr. Mansker detailed the $5.9 million shortfall in the FY2001 Congressional Printing and Binding funds and said GPO had submitted an FY2002 supplemental appropriations request for the shortfall and $2 million for a necessary project to abate asbestos in the GPO central office complex on North Capitol Street.

Questions were asked about the International Exchange Program and what documents were sent to libraries in other countries.  Francis Buckley said that the subset of public documents in depository libraries do not deal with classified materials. Other questions were asked about the workers' safety program and insurance liability costs.  Mr. Mansker said GPO has a comprehensive safety and work program and has made changes in purchasing lift machines and other items to reduce worker injury.

Representative Moran asked about contracting out printing.  He was told that 72 percent of the printing is contracted out through a competitive bidding process nationwide.  He questioned Mr. Buckley on the sales program.  Mr. Buckley responded that there have been some difficulties, since GPO has been charged with putting some of the best sellers on-line. (Examples, Congressional Record, Code of Federal Regulations and the Federal Register).  He said more and more documents are on-line.

[2] DEADLINE ANNOUNCED FOR EARLY READING FIRST 
PROGRAM (CFDA No. 84.359)

The Department of Education has announced a deadline for State Educational Agencies (SEA's) to identify and provide a list of eligible local educational agencies upon which applicant eligibility will be based for the Early Reading First program (part of the No Child Left Behind legislation).  Early Reading First grants are authorized by subpart 2 of part B of title I of the legislation.  The deadline established for submission is April 30, 2002.

Approximately $75 million is available for FY2002 for direct competitive grants from the Department to eligible local educational agencies (LEA's) and to public and private organizations in communities served by those LEA's in collaboration with one or more of those organizations.  The program would support early education programs and teach preschool-age children to develop the early language and cognitive skills that they need to enter kindergarten ready to learn.  For further details on qualifications and procedures, see the Federal Register, vol. 67, No. 69, April 10, 2002, p. 17594.



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