================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 79 ISSN 1069-7799 September 15, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (95 lines) SENATE PASSES LABOR/HHS/EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL - GORTON AMENDMENT CONSOLIDATES ED PROGRAMS - ACTION NEEDED _________________________________________________________________ SENATE PASSES LABOR/HHS/EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL GORTON AMENDMENT CONSOLIDATES ED PROGRAMS On Thursday, September 11, the Senate passed the FY98 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill (S. 1061), and in a surprise move, approved a consolidation of a variety of Department of Education programs proposed by Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA). Goals 2000, School to Work, Technology Literacy Challenge Fund, migrant education, Evenstart, Eisenhower Professional Development, Title VI, safe and drug free schools, magnet schools, Indian education, bilingual education and immigrant education as well as vocational education would all be consolidated into a block grant to local education agencies, bypassing both the Department of Education and the state Department of Education. Funds would be distributed to local school districts according to a specific formula which would give more funds to the poorest schools. This would be a drastic rearrangement of elementary/secondary education programs with no congressional hearings or deliberations or action by authorizing committees. The Committee for Education Funding, a coalition to which ALA belongs, has sent a letter to both House and Senate opposing this drastic restructuring. Funds for the Museum and Library Services Act as well as Impact Aid, Adult Education funds and Individuals with Disabilities funds were NOT INCLUDED in the amendment. Library program funds were approved at $146.4 million, the same amount as reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Senate approved a compromise amendment proposed by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) on the subject of national tests in reading and math for fourth and eighth-graders. The amendment would allow states the option of participating in national testing. The national tests have been promoted by the President as key to improving student achievement. Also approved was an amendment by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) to add $60 million to education infrastructure. Action in the House of Representatives will continue on September 16 on the House version of the FY98 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill (H.R. 2264). Many floor amendments have already been adopted to carve up Goals 2000 for particular programs like vocational and adult education, but no amendment as sweeping as the Gorton Senate amendment has yet been proposed. Earlier last week, it was expected that Rep.Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) would offer an amendment to take money from ESEA Title VI and direct it to increased funding for comprehensive regional assistance services, but the Rodriguez amendment that passed the House took funds from the Department of Education's research, statistics and improvement funds. ACTION NEEDED: As soon as the House bill is passed, there will be a conference committee appointed between House and Senate to consider the differences between House and Senate bills. Conferees are usually members of House and Senate Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittees. Library supporters should ask for the highest amount for library programs. If the bill contains items unacceptable to the President he may exercise his line-item veto prerogative or veto the bill outright. September 30 is the end of the fiscal year and the date by which all appropriations bills should be complete. _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc @ala.org. To unsubscribe, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/ washoff/alawon. Visit our Web site at http://www.alawash.org. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V) Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor Contributors: Mary R. Costabile Claudette W. Tennant All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================