NLA Action Alert: Urgent Action--Reading Excellence Bill May Die

[Ralei at aol.com]

NLA Colleagues---Calls are needed today (Thursday) and tomorrow
morning(Friday) at the latest to Senators in order to get a vote on the
Jeffords version of the Reading Excellence Act.  If Jeffords's bill doesn't
get a vote, the entire Reading Excellence bill may die or be vetoed.

As noted in previous posts, there are two versions of the Reading Excellence
Act. One, sponsored by Sen Paul Coverdell, is identical to the House-passed
version. It contains controversial provisions including Tutorial Assistance
Grants (TAGs) that will very likely draw a veto by President Clinton. The
Jeffords version does not have the TAGs and also contains some provisions that
would be very inclusive of adult education and volunteer literacy. Supporters
of Coverdell's version are trying to prevent a vote on Jefford's bill (which
was approved by the Senate education committee several weeks ago). If a bill
doesn't pass by tomorrow (Friday) it is very likely that there will be no bill
at all, since there won't be an opportunity to conference it with the House
version by July 1. 

Please call your Senator today (202) 224-3121 and ask to speak to the
Senator's education aide. Ask them to support---perhaps "demand"---a vote on
the Jeffords bill.
Especially key Senators to call are Republican members of the Senate Labor and
Human  Resources Committee---the committee that passed the Jeffords bill. They
are listed below. But note that any Senator can prevent unanimous consent to
consideration of a bill, so it is very important that every Senator know that
constitutents want a vote on the Jeffords bill.

Thanks for you immediate action!


Members of the committtee are:

(Republicans)
Jeffords (doesn't need to be called---it's his bill)
Coats (IN)
Gregg (NH)
Frist (TN)
DeWine (OH)
Enzi (WY)
Hutchinson (AR)
Collins (ME)
Warner (VA)
McConnell (KY)

Democrats 

Kennedy (MA)
Dodd (CT)
Harkin (IA)
Mikulski (MD)
Bingaman (NM)
Wellstone (MN)
Murray (WA)
Reed ( RI)

Also it is very important for people to call Trent Lott (R-MS), who is teh
majority leader and effectively controls whether or not there is vote.

Bill Raleigh
Laubach Literacy
315-422-9121 x354