Brief update on what is going on in Washington, DC in regards to fiscal year 11 budgets, ESEA Reauthorization and more!
CR passes: The Senate yesterday afternoon passed by a vote of 87-13, a sixth continuing resolution (H.J. Res. 48) for FY 11, which runs through April 8 and reduces spending by $6 billion - though without any new education cuts. The president is expected to sign the measure into law. Nine Republicans, three Democrats and Sen. Sanders voted against passage.
Another CR will need to be passed by April 8th. The Republicans have stressed that they are done playing nice and the next round of cuts will be severe. Constituents are still encouraged to contact their senators/representatives and fight to preserve education funding! Note: Each extension will cost at least $2 billion/week.
Sen. Paul (R-KY) Amendment: This amendment, which would cut ED programs by 66%, was formally offered Wednesday to the Small Business bill, S. 493, but a vote will not occur until after the recess. (Hill sources do NOT expect this amendment to pass).
Senate HELP Subcommittees: Wednesday the HELP Committee announced its subcommittee memberships: http://help.senate.gov/about/subcommittees/
Fiscal Year (FY) 10 SIG grants announced: ED yesterday announced the first five states to receive FY 10 School Improvement Grant Funds (IL, MS, NY, OH, SD):http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/five-states-receive-funding-turn-around-persistently-lowest-achieving-schools
Chairman Kline (R-Minn.) on ESEA: House GOP point man on education to Obama: Don't rush me on 'No Child'. Note this statement: "Kline also said the House would not approve a single comprehensive education bill and would instead break up the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind into separate pieces of legislation. The move is a reflection of orders from Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to scrap the thousand-page bills that Republicans decried under the Democratic majority. "We're just not going to do it," Kline said of passing a comprehensive bill." Read the entire article here:http://thehill.com/homenews/house/149811-kline-tells-obama-dont-rush-me-on-education-
Congress on Recess: Both the House and Senate are now on recess until Monday March 28. Take this time to visit your lawmakers in your hometown - many will be doing town hall meetings and other events -- make your voice heard!
Source: Amanda Fitzgerald, Director of Public Policy, ASCA
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