[NLA] info: Federal Appropriations

[FedStrategics]

TESOL's John Segota and Moira Lenehan-Razzuri, who represents the National Association for Migrant Education are spearheading appropriations efforts for the National Coalition for Literacy.

However as the Public Policy Committee chair, I do continue to get info requests from the field. Here's one from Karen Scheid of the Ohio Literacy Network:

"Any news about possible appropriations levels for adult literacy? It looks as thought we may be taking another hit here in Ohio due to budget shortfalls. Any ray of hope at the federal level would be helpful at this point."

Here's my response:

Short answer: probably not. The National Coalition for Literacy publicly is recommending $1B for WIA Title II State Grants (adult ed/literacy). Privately, we're prepared to tell House and Senate appropriators that a $200M increase may be more realistic.

In the end, we may not get any increase what with the budget deficit brought on by a combination of the economy, which is down but may be eking back, the ill-advised tax cut, and the cost of the war on terrorism. However, this is an election year so you never know. Polls show that the public continues to rank education as one of the most important domestic issues. Adult education/literacy has a history of winning election-year increases in the face of negative budgetary circumstances.

Therefore, we must maintain the drumbeat for an increase for adult education/literacy. Of course with Mr. Regula (R-OH-16) chairing the Labor, HHS, & Education Appropriations Subcommittee, his constituents have a disproportionately loud voice on this issue.

Thanks for all of your efforts!

Jon Randall 
Public Policy Committee Chair
National Coalition for Literacy
www.natcoalitionliteracy.org

FedStrategics, LLC
strategic advocacy & public affairs consulting
to charitable organizations
www.FedStrategics.com

8413 Park Crest Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: (301) 588-5304   Fax: (301) 588-5353
jrandall at FedStrategics.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.literacytent.org/pipermail/nla-nifl-archive/attachments/20020523/de5942ed/attachment.htm