ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 13, Number 94 November 18, 2004 In This Issue: CONGRESS FINALIZING FY05 LIBRARY FUNDING LEVELS; PLANS TO COMPLETE FY05 OMNIBUS SPENDING PACKAGE SATURDAY ACTION NEEDED: Contact your Members of Congress IMMEDIATELY and ask them to support $223.56 million for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) programs at the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and $22.842 million for the Improving Literary Through School Libraries program. Both programs are funded in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill (see Member list below). This looks to be your last chance to contact your Member of Congress in support of funding for federal library programs. The House and Senate are currently finalizing funding levels for the nine remaining FY 2005 spending bills and look to complete debate on the $388 billion spending package on Saturday. Among those bills being considered, is the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill, which funds library programs at the Institute for Museum and Library Services and at the Department of Education. Currently, the federal government is operating under a Continuing Resolution, which funds federal departments and agencies at current levels until November 20, 2004. Lawmakers will return to Washington on Nov. 16 and will have until November 20 to complete work on bills to fund the government for fiscal year 2005 or they will have to pass another continuing resolution until they can complete their work. Given the $8 billion in differences between Senate and House spending levels, it is critical that you contact your Member of Congress today and urge them to support funding for libraries. Libraries, like many other education programs could face potential cuts. ALA is urging its members to contact their Members of Congress immediately in support of $223.56 million for Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) programs at the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and $22.842 million for the Improving Literary Through School Libraries program. ALA is also urging for increased funding for the Title V education program, the Government Printing Office, the National Agriculture Library, and many other library related programs. Members of the House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee: Senator Arlen Specter (Chairman) (PA), Senator Thad Cochran (MS), Senator Judd Gregg (NH), Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), Senator Larry Craig (ID)Senator Ted Stevens (AK), Senator Mike DeWine (OH), Senator Richard Shelby (AL), Senator Tom Harkin (Ranking Member) (IA), Senator Ernest Hollings (SC), Senator Daniel Inouye (HI)Senator Harry Reid (NV), Senator Herb Kohl (WI), Senator Patty Murray (WA), Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), Ralph Regula, OH (R - Chairman), Ernest J. Istook, Jr., OK (R), Roger F. Wicker, MS (R), Anne Northup, KY (R), Randy "Duke" Cunningham, CA (R), Kay Granger, TX (R), John E. Peterson, PA (R), Don Sherwood, PA (R), Dave Weldon, FL (R), Michael K. Simpson, ID (R),David R. Obey, WI (D - Ranking Member), Steny H. Hoyer, MD (D), Nita M. Lowey, NY (D), Rosa L. DeLauro, CT (D), Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., IL (D), Patrick J. Kennedy, RI (D), Lucille Roybal-Allard, CA (D). Visit ALA's website for more information and talking points on these critical programs: You may call your Senators TOLL-FREE at 1-800-839-5276. Or identify and send your Member of Congress a letter through the legislative action center at: ****** Remember: You Can Call Any MEMBER OF CONGRESS Toll-Free: 1-800-839-5276 ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Carol Ashworth, Don Essex, Joshua Farrelman, Erin Haggerty, Patrice McDermott and Miriam Nisbet. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Carrie Lowe, Kathy Mitchell, Carrie Russell. ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.