ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 9, Number 23 March 20, 2000 In this issue: [1] Literacy Coalition Works for Appropriations; Action Needed [2] OPE to Sponsor Future of Postsecondary Education Regional Meetings [1] Literacy Coalition Works for Appropriations; Action Needed The ALA Washington Office has again joined forces with several literacy groups, including the Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. (LVA), to request at least $270 million for the Workforce Investment Act Title I National programs. This request would be more than the Clinton Administration's request for FY2001, but level funding with that of FY2000. In addition, the groups are requesting that the final Labor-HHS- Education appropriations bill include language that would direct the Department of Labor to use $25 million of the Title I National Programs funds for demonstration grants. The demonstration grants would increase the capacity of national networks of volunteer adult literacy programs and library literacy programs and urban literacy coalitions. These networks would prepare the hardest-to- reach/hardest-to-teach adults and out-of-school youth for the workforce. The Literacy Volunteers of America cite a recent pilot study conducted by the business consulting firm, A. T. Kearney. The firm reports that for every dollar invested in LVA, students experience a $33 economic gain in their lives. Since 40 to 45 million adults read at or below a 5th grade level, programs to address the low-reading levels of those adults are critical. Appropriations bills will start in the House after this year's FY2001 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations hearings. On March 21, ALA will testify for library program appropriations, for Title VI appropriations and for adult literacy appropriations. --Mary Costabile ACTION NEEDED: Messages to Congress: (1) Fund the Workforce Investment Act Title I National Programs at FY2000 level of $270 million; (2) Include report language that would direct the Department of Labor to use $25 million for demonstration grants. The demonstration grants would increase the capacity of national networks of volunteer adult literacy programs and library literacy programs and urban literacy coalitions. These networks would prepare the hardest-to-reach/hardest-to-teach adults and out-of- school youth for the workforce. If your Representative or Senator is not on the committee list below, please tell them to convey your request to the committee members by letter or in person. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Phone Fax 202 Area Code Rep. Jay Dickey (R-AZ) 225-3772 225-1314 Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) 225-4695 225-8259 Rep. Randy Cuningham (D-CA) 225-5452 225-2558 Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) 225-3661 225-4890 Rep. Bill Young (R-FL) 225-5961 225-9764 Rep. Dan Miller (R-FL) 225-5015 226-0828 Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL) 225-0773 225-0899 Rep. John Porter (R-IL) 225-4835 225-0837 Rep. Anne Northup (R-KY) 225-5401 225-5776 Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) 225-4131 225-4300 Rep. Roger Wicker (R-MS) 225-4306 225-3549 Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) 225-6506 225-0546 Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) 225-2132 226-1463 Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-TX) 225-4511 225-2237 Rep. David Obey (D-WI) 225-3365 225-3240 Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education Phone Fax 202 Area Code Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) 224-4521 224-2207 Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 224-3841 228-3954 Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) 224-3934 224-6747 Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) 224-2752 228-1067 Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) 224-3254 224-9369 Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) 224-5054 224-9450 Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) 224-3542 224-7327 Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) 224-3324 224-4952 Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) 224-4254 224-1229 Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-SC) 224-6121 224-4293 Sen. Kay Hutchinson(R-TX) 224-5922 224-0776 Sen. Slade Gordon (R-WA) 224-3441 224-9393 Sen. Patty Murray (d-WA) 224-2621 224-0238 Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI) 224-5653 224-9787 [2] OPE to Sponsor Future of Postsecondary Education Regional Meetings Note: The following is a message from the Office of Postsecondary Education. More information is available at http://www.ed.gov/OPEAgenda. The Office of Postsecondary Education is sponsoring a series of regional meetings on the future of postsecondary education in April and May of this year. We welcome your sharing information about these meetings with your colleagues. U.S. Department of Education Regional Meetings The Agenda Project: A National Dialogue on Postsecondary Education How can the U.S. Department of Education better serve all those who have a stake in American postsecondary education? This is the question that leaders from the Department of Education are asking at postsecondary institutions and in communities across the country. We are soliciting ideas and advice from college and university presidents and faculty, trade and proprietary school executives, students, parents, community members, business and technology leaders and others interested in education. We seek your help in developing a national postsecondary education agenda that goes beyond our continuing commitment to providing financial aid for American students -- one that will enable us to meet the needs of students, institutions, the business community and the entire nation in the changing environment of the 21st century. The Department of Education's Role In the American system, postsecondary education is a national priority. Yet states, localities and independent organizations have responsibility for providing postsecondary education. A significant Department of Education responsibility, then, is to coordinate among these various entities -- promoting inter- institutional and inter-state cooperation, and helping them work together in the increasingly interdependent and international context. Furthermore, the Department of Education has served postsecondary students and institutions through a wide range of programs aimed at promoting access to, and quality in, postsecondary education and at strengthening international education. More recently, we have taken on new challenges in promoting distance education, improving teacher education, and further expanding opportunity by better preparing K-12 students for postsecondary education opportunities at an earlier age and by promoting access to graduate education. How can the Department of Education address the new realities facing American postsecondary education? Through the Agenda Project, we hope you will help us address this question. The Agenda Project Process Through the winter and spring of 2000, leaders from the Department of Education will conduct meetings with representatives from colleges, universities, and proprietary schools; students; business leaders; and others from the public and private sectors who can provide insights. We also are soliciting written suggestions from all interested groups and individuals. In the fall of 2000, Department staff will set out a postsecondary education agenda that reflects the advice we have gathered. We anticipate that the Agenda Project will provide an ongoing forum through which all constituents can influence the postsecondary education agenda. How Can I Contribute? If you would like to provide a written submission, or otherwise contribute to the development of the postsecondary education agenda, please write to Ms. Kimberly Thompson at the Agenda Project, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, 1990 K Street, NW, Rm. 7134, Washington, D.C. 20006 or contact her at (202) 502-7719 or contact us via email at ope_agenda@ed.gov. For more information about the project, please visit our Web site at http://www.ed.gov/OPEAgenda. We hope that you will visit the site, call and/or write to help us build an agenda for American postsecondary education. Regional Meeting Dates and Locations Boston, MA April 5th, 10-12pm and 1-3pm, The Colonade Boston, 120 Huntington Ave. (617) 424-7000 Dallas, TX April 26th, 10-12pm and 1-3pm, Wyndham Dallas Market Center, 2015 Market Center Blvd., (214) 741-7481 San Francisco, CA May 2nd, 10-12pm and 1-3pm, Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf, 555 North Point St., (415) 563-1234 Atlanta, GA May 10th, 10-12pm and 1-3pm, Wyndham Atlanta Hotel, 160 Spring St., (404) 688-8600 ****** 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; Editor: Deirdre Herman. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Mary Costabile, Peter Kaplan, Miriam Nisbet and Claudette Tennant. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Jennifer Hendrix, Carrie Russell and Saundra Shirley.