[NCL_Update] Federal Literacy Appropriations Bills on Fast Track

[Jon Randall]

NCL Update: Federal Literacy Appropriations Bills on Fast Track
June 23, 2003 by Jon Randall, NCL Public Policy Committee Chair

Summary ... House and Senate Appropriations Committees are moving more
quickly than usual on the Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bill.
(See timeline below.) No bill number has been assigned yet. The good news is
that the House subcommittee approved a $13M increase for Adult Education
State Grants and restored funding for Even Start that had been lost in last
year's 0.65% across-the-board cut. Funding for NIFL and National Leadership
Activities were level funded - FY'03 across-the-board cuts were not
restored.

Outlook ... The Senate subcommittee has $435M less to "spend" on Labor, HHS,
and Education programs overall than did the House. We don't know what impact
that might have, if any, on adult education funding overall. In the Senate,
the full committee is where across-the-board cuts originated for the FY'03
Labor/HHS/Ed appropriations bill. We'll keep watch and let you know what
happens. Floor action is not expected until after the July 4th recess.
Education groups including members of the NCL will be working together to
advocate for increases in amendments before the full House and Senate but
the outlook for such amendments far from rosy at the moment.

Timeline, House ...
Subcommittee mark-up was held last Thursday.
Full committee mark-up scheduled for this Wednesday, 6/25

Timeline, Senate ...
Subcommittee mark-up scheduled for this Wednesday, 6/25
Full committee mark-up is set for the next day, Thursday

Results of House Subcommittee markup:

Adult Education State Grants
	FY'03 actual ... $571.262M ($575M less across-the-board cuts)
	Administration request ... $584.3M
	Approved by subcommittee ... $584.3M
Adult Education National Leadership Activities
	FY'03 actual ... $9.438 (includes across-the-board cut)
	Administration request ... $0 (included in State Grants)
	Approved by subcommittee ... $9.438
National Institute for Literacy
	FY'03 actual ... $6.517M (includes across-the-board cut)
	Administration request ... $6.732M
	Approved by subcommittee ... $6.517M
Even Start
	FY'03 actual ... $248.375M (includes across-the-board cut)
	Administration request ... $175M
	Approved by subcommittee ... $250M

Stay tuned.

Jon Randall
Consultant, Government Relations
PROLITERACY Worldwide
and Public Policy Committee Chair
National Coalition for Literacy
www.natcoalitionliteracy.org

PROLITERACY Worldwide underwrites 
the coordination of NCL public policy efforts
www.proliteracy.org

FedStrategics, LLC
8413 Park Crest Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: (301) 588-5304   Fax: (301) 588-5353
jrandall at fedstrategics.com


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