================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 18 ISSN 1069-7799 March 19, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (170 lines) CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET PROCESS APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE: ACTION NEEDED ON LSTA AND ESEA TITLE VI _________________________________________________________________ CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET PROCESS The budget process is not proceeding in a "business as usual" manner. Beginning with the President's FY98 budget submission, it is normally followed by budget committee hearings in House and Senate and then by a Budget Resolution agreed to by both House and Senate. The Budget Resolution sets the overall amount for expenditures for the year and allocations of that amount are then given to each appropriations subcommittee. The statutory deadline for Congress to pass a Budget Resolution is April 15, but in past years the process has carried on until May or later. This year's process has included an informal series of talks between Administration officials and Congressional leaders which at first seemed to be making progress on reaching agreement. However, this week, it appears that there are some issues which are proving to be more difficult, such as whether or not to adjust the Consumer Price Index. As in past years, the education community and the Committee for Education Funding, to which ALA belongs, is supporting the President's increased commitment of resources to education in his FY98 budget, and urging Congress to support the overall increase for education. _________________________________________________________________ APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE Appropriations Subcommittees in the House have been holding hearings on education programs. Secretary of Education Richard Riley appeared before the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee on March 11 to testify on the Administration's budget for FY98. In his testimony, Secretary Riley discussed the "energy and excitement across the country" in terms of educational progress. He highlighted the Presidential initiatives of America Reads Challenge, the school construction initiative and the technology literacy challenge fund. He talked about the importance of after-school learning centers where students could obtain tutoring, mentoring and homework help. Riley discussed voluntary testing and the need for standards. Subcommittee Chairman John Porter (R-IL) reminded Riley that some of the proposed programs would need authorizations such as the school construction initiative. Secretary Riley was questioned on the number of federal education programs, estimated to be 760 different programs. Riley said there were 197 programs run by the Department of Education, down from 240 four years ago, and that 64 programs had been eliminated. Further hearings on education programs took place during the rest of the week. Testimony on LSTA by the new Institute of Museum and Library Services is scheduled before the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee on April 8. The President requested $136.4 million for LSTA for FY98, the same level as appropriations for FY97. Congress will adjourn for Easter recess from March 21 through April 7. ACTION NEEDED ON LSTA AND ESEA TITLE VI: The recess will be an opportune time for library supporters to contact legislators about the importance of funding for library programs. LSTA: It will be an opportunity to thank your Representatives and Senators for their support for the new Library Services and Technology Act. It is critical to impress on members that: the new law consolidates and streamlines the old LSCA; the new law will provide needed help to local libraries for new technology and innovative services; the new law should be funded at least at $150 million for FY98. Collect local examples of past uses of federal funds for libraries as examples of success stories that may either be continued under the new act or changed in a different direction. ESEA VI: Title VI (the old chapter 2 block grant) provides funding for school library and instructional materials. The President's FY98 budget would zero out this program. This is the only program that provides funding for school libraries and, according to Department of Education figures, at least 40 percent of the funds are spent on that purpose. Appropriations for FY97 for this program were $310 million. With increased enrollments, as well as increased costs for materials, school libraries are hard-pressed to provide up-to-date books, periodicals and reference materials to support the curriculum. It is not too soon to contact Representatives and Senators concerning funding for these and other library, education and related programs. Lists of House and Senate Labor HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittees are listed below. These are the subcommittees that will make the first decisions for FY98 funding levels for LSTA, ESEA VI and other education programs. If your Representative or Senator is not a member of the Subcommittee, ask him or her to contact the chair and ranking Democrat on your behalf. HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HHS, & EDUCATION St. Dst. Pty. Congressman Cap. Hill Ph. District Ph. AR 04 R Jay Dickey (202) 225-3772 (501) 536-3376 CA 08 D Nancy Pelosi (202) 225-4965 (415) 556-4862 CT 03 D Rosa DeLauro (202) 225-3661 (203) 562-3718 FL 10 R Bill Young (202) 225-5961 (813) 581-0980 FL 13 R Dan Miller (202) 225-5015 (813) 951-6643 IL 10 R John Porter, Chair (202) 225-4835 (708) 940-0202 KY 03 R Anne Northup (202) 225-5401 MD 05 D Steny Hoyer (202) 225-4131 (301) 474-0119 MS 01 R Roger Wicker (202) 225-4306 (601) 844-5437 NY 18 D Nita Lowey (202) 225-6506 (914) 428-1707 OH 11 D Louis Stokes (202) 225-7032 (216) 522-4900 OK 05 R Ernest Istook, Jr. (202) 225-2132 (405) 942-3636 TX 23 R Henry Bonilla (202) 225-4511 (210) 697-9055 WI 07 D David Obey, Ranking(202) 225-3365 (715) 842-5606 Minority Member SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HHS, & EDUCATION St. Pty. Senator Cap. Hill Ph. District Ph. AR D Dale Bumpers (202) 224-4843 (501) 324-6286 HI D Daniel Inouye (202) 224-3934 (808) 541-2542 IA D Tom Harkin, Ranking (202) 224-3254 (515) 284-4574 Minority Member ID R Larry Craig (202) 224-2752 (208) 342-7985 MO R Christopher Bond (202) 224-5721 (314) 634-2488 MS R Thad Cochran (202) 224-5054 (601) 965-4459 NC R Lauch Faircloth (202) 224-3154 (919) 856-4791 NH R Judd Gregg (202) 224-3324 (603) 225-7115 NV D Harry Reid (202) 224-3542 (702) 474-0041 PA R Arlen Specter, Chair (202) 224-4254 (215) 597-7200 SC D Ernest Hollings (202) 224-6121 (803) 765-5731 TX R Kay Bailey Hutchison (202) 224-5922 (713) 653-3456 WA R Slade Gorton (202) 224-3441 (206) 451-0103 WA D Patty Murray (202) 224-2621 (206) 553-5545 WI D Herb Kohl (202) 224-5653 (414) 297-4451 _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. 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