[NLA] Adult Education Approprriations Update

[Jon Randall]

The House Rules Committee Tuesday night approved a rule for debate on an
FY03 Continuing Resolution (CR) through November 22, 2002. But reportedly
there is no agreement on resolving objections from members concerned about
drought aid, homeland security and education which may result in another
one-week CR until October 25.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said Tuesday that a lame duck session is
probably inevitable. Last week, House Speaker Dennis Hastert indicated he
feels a lame duck session is the best way to resolve contentious issues in
the appropriations bills.

One of those contentious issues is funding for education. The total amount
allocated for education in the House is less than that allocated in the
Senate. House leadership reluctantly acknowledges it MAY have to add money
for education in order to have enough votes for passage of the
appropriations bill. National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) members have been
urging House Appropriations subcommittee staff to include a $135M increase
for adult education state grants as part of any additional funding provided
for education programs.

In the Senate, the Appropriations Committee approved the same amount for
adult education state grants as last year, $565M. However, Senator Kennedy
may be willing to offer an amendment on the Senate floor - in the lame duck
session - to provide additional funding for education programs. Again NCL
members have been working to get Sen. Kennedy to include the same $135M
increase for adult education state grants in his amendment.

Grassroots pressure may become instantly necessary if and when things start
to look possible. Stay tuned.


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

NCL policy efforts are supported in part by funding from ProLiteracy
Worldwide

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



_______________________________________________
NLA mailing list: NLA at lists.literacytent.org
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/nla
LiteracyTent: web hosting, news, community and goodies for literacy
http://literacytent.org