ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 10, Number 87
December 18, 2001

In this issue: 


LABOR HHS EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT PASSES HOUSE/SENATE

On December 18, conferees for the FY2002 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill (H.R. 3061) concluded their conference.  Approval of the conference report by the House of Representatives followed on Wednesday, December 19.  The Senate approved the conference report today.  

Included in the conference report for library programs under the Institute of Museum and Library Services was a total of 197.6 million.  Both Houses had previously reported bills that listed library programs at $168 million, the President's requested level, but in conference a large number of earmarks were added.  The conference report may be accessed on Thomas, under the House Rules Committee web site.  

The new school library resources program, established under the recently reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act, approved by Congress and still to be signed by the President, would be funded by appropriators at $12.5 million.  The Senate bill had set funding at $25 million, but the House bill had no funding for the account.  In conference, appropriators sometimes reach agreement by splitting the difference, and that happened in many education line items.  Because this will be a new program, the Department of Education will decide on guidelines and set up a process for grant applications. Notification for comments on guidelines will be published in the Federal Register. According to the new law, if funding goes over the $100 million level, the program will become a state formula grant.  The conference report is available on THOMAS, under the House Education and the Workforce Committee web site.

(Note: A word of explanation is in order, since ESEA passed and quickly thereafter appropriators voted on their conference report.  Authorization occurs every five to six years and sets the overall level for programs-so when ESEA was reauthorized, the funding level for the school library resources program was set at $250 million for this year and "such sums" as may be stipulated for succeeding years.  Appropriators decide how much of that amount to spend, either up to the limit or somewhere below the limit-so appropriators chose for this year to spend $12.5 million for the school library resources program). 

Thanks to all library supporters who contacted appropriators, asking for funding for these programs.  Particular thanks to Ohio school librarians for their immediate response to our ALAWON.  Please be sure to thank your Representative and Senators for their work on funding increases for education in general and for library programs in particular.


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