ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 14, Number 19
March 3, 2005

In This Issue: CONGRESS FINALIZES APPROPRIATIONS REORGANIZATION PLAN

On Wednesday, March 2, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) persuaded his Senate colleagues to approve a reorganization plan that more closely aligns the panel with its House counterpart by cutting one subcommittee and reshuffling the jurisdictions of many of the 12 that remain.

The plan eliminates the subcommittee that funds veterans, housing and NASA programs, reallocating its jurisdiction to other panels. Unlike the House, the Senate will maintain its District of Columbia and Legislative Branch subcommittees.

As you recall, the House of Representatives, spurred by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay(R-TX), moved last month to revamp their committee structure. The House cut the total number of subcommittees from 13 to 10.

In early February, ALA sent a letter to Chairman Lewis and Senator Cochran expressing 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


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