[GLC] Good News

[Ira Yankwitt]

Dear Colleagues:

Last Friday, the House of Representatives passed the approriations bill
that maintains level funding for adult education.  While this was not a
surprise, it was another big victory in our efforts to preserve our federal
funding.  Please see the email message below for more details.

Also, today's New York Times reports that the budget deal struck last night
between the Mayor and the City Council includes $9 million for the
Immigrant Opportunities Initiative.  While our understanding is that the
City Council still needs to finalize its commitments, this is extremelely
encouraging news.

I will be away from Thursday, June 30, through Friday, July 8.  If I
receive any updates while I'm away, I will get them out to you immediately
when I return on July 11th.

Best,
Ira


*********************************
>From Art Ellison, Co-Chair, Policy Committee, National Council of State
Directors of Adult Education

On Friday afternoon by a vote of 250-151 the US House of Representatives
approved the appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and
Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. The bill contains level
funding for adult education state grants at $569,672,000. The result of the
roll call can be seen by going to the US House of Representatives website.
Subcommittee Chairman Regula included adult education in his comments on the
floor, stating that this was a program that needs to be funded. 

The proposed Wilson amendment to add $25 million to Even Start was not
contained in a consent agreement of amendments between the Democrats and
Republicans and therefore was not offered on the floor. As a result the
funding for Even Start was $200 million, the same total that was included in
the Appropriations committee original bill. Thanks to all of you who
generated calls on this proposed amendment last Thursday and Friday.
Congressional offices know that we are out here and that we are paying
attention to the process.

While we were anticipating this outcome on the adult education funding it
remains another huge victory in our efforts to restore the funding. We will
keep working to insure that the final outcome is a win for our students. Now
it is on to the Senate.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human
Services, Education and Related Agencies will be marking up the bill on
JULY 12.  Listed below are the Subcommittee members from which we need support
for level funding. You are already in the middle of campaigns targeted at
these Senators. The final action should be multiple telephone calls to their
Washington offices on July 7, 8 and 11. 

Republicans: Chair-Specter-Pennsylvania, Cochran-Mississippi, Gregg-New
Hampshire, Craig-Idaho, Hutchinson-Texas, Stevens-Alaska, DeWine-Ohio,
Shelby-Alabama

Democrats-Ranking Member-Harkin, Inouye-Hawaii, Reid-Nevada,
Kohl-Wisconsin, Murray-Washington, Landrieu-Louisiana, Durbin-Illinois

Thank you all for your outstanding and effective work since we started
all of this on Feb. 9, 2005. Let's bring this one home.



Ira Yankwitt, Director
Professional Development / 
NYC Regional Adult Education Network 
Literacy Assistance Center
32 Broadway, 10th Floor
NY, NY 10004
(212) 803-3356
iray at lacnyc.org