Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost.nifl.gov [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id HAA26287; Mon, 10 Nov 1997 07:56:24 -0500 (EST) Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 07:56:24 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <971110075653_342322533@mrin42.mail.aol.com> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: RJurczyk@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1261] xpost America Reads Nov. 10 X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Status: RO The following is crossposted form America Reads. Robin Jurczyk NIFL-Family list moderator rjurcyzk@aol.com ************ Subject: Legislative Wrap-Up Bring Good News!! URGENT -- FYI Alan Lopatin Executive Director National and Community Service Coalition (202) 488-SERV fax (202) 244-2322 email: NCSC@aol.com House and Senate Action Good News for National Service and More With Congress scheduled to wrap up its business before Veterans Day (Tuesday 11/11), last-minute action has brought some finality to long-pending measures and breathed new life into others. FY1998 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Final Action First off, House and Senate conferees, along with the White House were finally able to resolve their differences over contentious riders, including a ban on national education testing, included in the FY 1998 Labor/HHS/Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The final measure passed the House on Friday by a vote of 352-65 and cleared the Senate Saturday by a vote of 91-4. Included in the measure were significant increases for national service programs administered by the Corporation for National Service. AmeriCorps*VISTA secured an increase of $24 million over FY 1997 levels (+58.2%), principally in response to the Clinton Administration's insistence on additional funding for service-related childrens literacy programming. And, the programs of the National Senior Service Corps (Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP) reaped a nearly $19 million increase (+$12.8%). The final conference report also included a $50 million increase fo Head Start beyond the summer Balanced Budget Agreement (a total increase of $374 million over FY 1997). In the Senate's 91-4 vote to pass the conference report on Labor/HHS Appropriations for FY 1998, the only Senators opposing the measure were Republicans Smith (R-NH), Sessions (R-AL), Helms (R-NC), and Inhofe (R-OK). Not voting were Ashcroft (R-MO), Wellstone (D-MN), McConnell, Campbell (R-CO), and McCain (R-AZ). "America Reads/Reading Excellence Act" Moves Forward Also on Saturday, the House, by voice vote, passed H.R. 2614, the "Reading Excellence Act" -- Congress' response to President Clinton's America Reads Challenge. The House measure calls for competitive grants to state partnerships in order to provide professional development, classroom assistance, and tutorial aid to enable children to get the reading skills they need to succeed. The measure also expands Even Start family literacy programming. While President Clinton's proposal would have employed the services of one million reading volunteers, thousands of reading specialists, and AmeriCorps and Senior Corps volunteers in support of the effort, the House bill only carves out a role for volunteers in the context of members of the various partnerships which will be part of the decision-making and service-providing process. Lawmakers overcame a long-lasting dispute over provisions in the bill which authorize "tutorial assistance grants" so that parents can secure independent services for their children if a special need exists. Democrats had argued that the "TAGs" were another form of education voucher, something they opposed and defeated in another form earlier in the week. Compromise language preserves a greater role for local educational agencies in securing tutorial services. The Senate must now act on the measure. Funds have already been appropriated for the children's literacy intitiative, pending authorization in law no later than July 1, 1998. For further information, contact the Coalition. Nonmembers are welcome to apply for membership. The 1998 legislative year promises to be filled with opportunities, obstacles, and important news and views. ------------------------------ End of AmericaReads Digest V1 #93 *********************************
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