ACTION ALERT Issue: The House Majority recently passed H.R. 1, which would cut $10.6 billion, or 15.3 percent of the education budget for fiscal year 2011. This cut would eliminate the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP), which is currently funded at $55 million. Other catastrophic cuts and eliminations would affect the following programs: Tech Prep State Grants, GEAR UP, TRIO, IDEA state grants, federal Pell Grants and many more. ACTION NEEDED: We are asking you to call or e-mail your House and Senate members today with the following message: "As a constituent of Representative/Senator ___________, I am calling/writing because I strongly oppose H. R. 1. I would like to request you, as my elected official, refuse to pass further cuts to education. Programs such as the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program are vital for our students, especially in time of economic hardship. These cuts will have a negative impact on our students." Feel free to list any of the programs that are meaningful to you, such as: · Elementary and Secondary School Program (eliminated) · Integration of Mental Health Systems (eliminated) · Safe Schools/Healthy Students (severely cut) · Federal TRIO programs (cut) · GEAR UP (cut) Steps for Reaching Members of Congress: If you don't know who your members of Congress are, go tohttp://www.contactingthecongress.org/, enter your ZIP code, and the names of your elected representatives with phone numbers and hyperlinks will appear. If you know your members of Congress you can call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121 and ask for your member's office. When you call, make sure to give your name and identify yourself as a constituent; you may need to give your home address (city/town). If you are unable to get through via phone, please go to your member's Web site (which can be found athttp://www.contactingthecongress.org/ ) and opt to send an e-mail. Be sure to let them know that you are an educator, and these cuts will have a negative impact on your work and the education of children in his/her district. Personal stories are the most meaningful. Please widely circulate this message and encourage all educators in your building to call/e-mail their elected officials. This is timely matter; please act today! If you have any questions or have difficulty finding your elected official please contact Amanda Fitzgerald. |
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