ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 14, Number 11
February 10, 2005

In This Issue: HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCES FINAL DETAILS OF APPROPRIATIONS REORGANIZATION -- LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ELIMINATED

House Appropriations Chairman Lewis announced final details Wednesday of a sweeping reorganization plan that cuts the number of subcommittees from 13 to 10 and includes a major shuffling of jurisdictions.  

Under the proposal, the House would eliminate the VA-HUD, District of Columbia and Legislative Branch subcommittees, although the Senate might keep the D.C. appropriations bill separate. The full committee would handle the Legislative Branch bill.

The proposal will need to be ratified by the full membership of the Appropriations Committee at the reorganization meeting tentatively scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, February 14. 

Senate Appropriations Chairman Cochran, who has been working with Chairman Lewis on his reorganization plan, will meet with Senate Republican panel members today to weigh the proposal.

The Ranking House Democrat on Appropriations, Rep. David Obey, released a statement stating that this proposal was "not aimed at improving efficiency," rather it was "payback" by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay for cuts proposed last year to NASA's mission to Mars.  The Johnson Space Center is in DeLay's district.

ALA sent a letter to Chairman Lewis expressing our concern about the proposed elimination of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee and the negative effects it could have on the oversight duties of the Appropriations Committee, particularly on such agencies as the Government Printing Office (GPO).

To view ALA's letter to Chairman Lewis, click on the following link, or paste the complete link into your browser's address bar:
http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/WOissues/washfunding/appropsreorg.pdf
 
You may view the complete PRESS RELEASE from Chairman Lewis by clicking on the following link, or by pasting the complete link into your browser's address bar:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=439&Month=2&Year=2005
 


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