ALAWON v5n35 (June 17, 1996) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v5n35 ------------------- ALWN535.DOS follows -------------------- ================================================================= ALAWON Volume 5, Number 35 ISSN 1069-7799 June 17, 1996 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE FUNDS UNAUTHORIZED LIBRARY PROGRAMS ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY TO RESTORE LIBRARY CUTS SUBCOMMITTEE DOUBLES ESEA VI INNOVATION PROGRAM (CHAPTER 2) _________________________________________________________________ HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE FUNDS UNAUTHORIZED LIBRARY PROGRAMS Despite the fact that the Library Services and Construction Act is technically not authorized to receive funding in fiscal year 1997 (beginning October 1, 1996), the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education has approved funding for the program for the coming year. In a session that lasted from 3:00 p.m. until after midnight on June 13, the subcommittee approved the following levels for selected library and related programs: PROGRAM FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1997 (in thousands) FINAL PRESIDENT HOUSE APPROPS. REQUEST SUBCOM. LSCA I, PL Services $ 92,636 -- $ 92,636 II, PL Construction 16,369 -- 0 III, Interlib. Coop. 18,000 -- 11,864 HEA II Lib. educ./training 2,500 -- 2,500 Research/demonstrations 3,000 -- 1,000 TOTAL LIB. GRANT PROGRAMS 132,505 110,000* 108,000 *to fund legislation not yet authorized ESEA VI (Ch. 2) innovation 275,000 0 608,517 College work-study 616,508 679,000 685,000 Ed. Research/Statistics 185,871 190,750 208,264 NCLIS 829 897 812 For Department of Education programs in general, most programs were level funded, but 24 programs would be terminated, and some reduced. The House had not chosen to fund LSCA II public library construction/renovation for some years, often expecting that the Senate would restore the funds. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) voiced her concern over the elimination of funding for library construction. Subcommittee Chairman John Porter (R-IL), while expressing a willingness to work with Lowey on the issue of funding for libraries, stated that library construction is not a federal priority. The new pattern in the House subcommittee levels is funding for at least some HEA II programs, which the House zeroed out in FY96, as well as the 34 percent cut in LSCA III. The LSCA III cut is especially disappointing, since the thrust of the House-passed reauthorization of LSCA as LSTA is technological innovation--the focus of LSCA III. ACTION NEEDED IMMEDIATELY TO RESTORE LIBRARY CUTS When the Subcommittee adjourned, it was with Chairman Porter's assurance that he would look for offsets to fund four more amendments increasing health programs and an additional amendment increasing funding for technology. These offsets must come from programs within the Subcommittee's jurisdiction, so there is a possibility of more cuts to education and library programs at the next stage in the process. That step takes place on Thursday, June 20, when the full House Appropriations Committee takes up the Subcommittee recommendations. Library constituents are urged to contact House Appropriations Committee members to request that they maintain at least FY96 funding for all library programs. In particular, remind these House offices that LSCA III is crucial to linking libraries electronically to the information superhighway, and urge that the deep cut in LSCA III interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing be restored. _________________________________________________________________ SUBCOMMITTEE DOUBLES ESEA VI INNOVATION PROGRAM (CHAPTER 2) The ESEA VI educational innovation program (the Chapter 2 block grant for which school library resources are eligible) would be increased substantially by an amendment offered by Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK). The Istook amendment, adopted by the subcommittee, would eliminate funds for Professional Development, Foreign Language Assistance, and Star Schools, and transfer the funds to title VI. This resulted in an addition of $308,039,000. Another amendment offered successfully by Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-TX) transferred $10 million from title VI for an addition to a health profession program. Thus, the overall subcommittee result for ESEA VI (formerly Chapter 2) is $608,517,000. Materials distributed by Rep. Istook in support of his title VI amendment indicated that he preferred that funds go to programs with no strings attached rather than into programs with more strings. He indicated that the Administration stated that school districts "tended to use their Chapter 2 monies for routine costs and services. For example, in fiscal year 1991, they spent 40% of their allocations to acquire library books and other instructional materials." According to Rep. Istook, the Department of Education reported the following current uses of title VI funds: 1. 40% of funds are used for library books and instructional materials 2. 13% for professional development 3. 9% for innovative school programs 4. balance for programs for at-risk students, student achievement and school enhancement programs Rep. Istook concluded that, contrary to the Administration's request, there is "no good reason to zero Title VI (Chapter 2). That would blow a huge hole in the budgets of local schools." He continued: "Students are far better off with one program that works and is fully funded than 3 programs that each have their own administrative costs. It would also mean fewer federal bureaucrats would be needed. Let's fund classroom learning rather than bureaucrats!" If the $608.5 million level for title VI were enacted, and 40 percent of the funds were used for library books and other instructional materials, that would mean more than $243 million would be available. Even if not all those materials ended up in school library media centers, the potential boost for school library resources is significant. _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname]" to . ALAWON archives gopher.ala.org; select Washington Office Newsline. Web page HTTP://www.ala.org/alawashington.html. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Contributors: Carol C. Henderson and Claudette Tennant All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================