ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 9, Number 25 March 28, 2000 In this issue: [1] HOUSE LABOR HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING [2] ESEA SENATE FLOOR ACTION MAY OCCUR LAST WEEK IN APRIL ACTION NEEDED [1] HOUSE LABOR HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING On March 21, Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director of the ALA Washington Office, testified before the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. John Porter (R-IL) on FY2001 appropriations for library programs, Title VI, adult literacy and funding for the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. This marks only the third time in the last ten years that the Washington Office request to testify has been granted. Since there are so many programs encompassed in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill, often speakers are chosen by lottery. This will be the last year that Representative Porter chairs the subcommittee since he has announced his retirement. Sheketoff thanked Porter for his record of support for libraries. She requested funding at $173 million for library programs in the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Sheketoff's request of $173 million is the same level as the Administration's FY2001 budget request. Sheketoff stressed the importance of funding of Title VI, Innovative Education Program Strategies, the block grant that allows purchase of school library and instructional materials as a choice for spending. She asked for the level the subcommittee approved in FY99, $400 million. The full text of Sheketoff's statement can be seen at www.ala.org/washoff/statements.html. [2] ESEA SENATE FLOOR ACTION MAY OCCUR LAST WEEK IN APRIL ACTION NEEDED It appears that S.2, the major Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization legislation, will be set for Senate floor action soon after the Senate reconvenes from its Spring recess. It is Senator Jack Reed's intention to submit S.1262 as an amendment during debate on S. 2. ACTION NEEDED: School library supporters should call, write, and visit local offices of Senators asking for their support on including S. 1262 in the final version of S.2. (Senate Switchboard Number is: (202) 224-3121) Your Senator will have the opportunity to vote on S.2 and on Senator Reed's amendment (S.1262) when the bill reaches the floor after recess. Please contact his or her office and ask for support. Use the ALA Legislative Action Center (congress.ala.org), but be sure to send a paper copy of your letter as well. Members of School Library Media Associations in states can alert their membership as well as related organizations that can support this, such as the Parent Teachers Associations. There have been a number of articles written in newspapers from various states investigating the sad state of school library materials. The latest article appeared on March 22 in Education Week, "Study Shows Rise in Test Scores Tied to School Library Resources," by Kathleen Kennedy Manzo. Now is the time to act and thanks for your help. ****** 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. 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.