Federal Legislative Update
February 2006

2/17/06

News from Capitol Hill...

Stop the Assault on Kids, Schools;
Take Budget Message Back Home

With Congress set to begin the budget process early next month and members of Congress back home for the Presidents Day recess (February 20-24), now is the ideal time to urge Congress to reject President Bush's budget and instead draft a budget that increases funding for the education and health care programs essential to our children, the poor, the sick, the elderly and our schools.

Write your local newspaper during the recess to urge your Representative and Senators to come up with a budget that reflects our nation's values and priorities. Framing the debate early on is critical to making sure we get a fair and responsible budget.

Bush's budget proposal does away with 42 education programs. These include career and technical education, school counseling, Safe and Drug-Free Schools, education technology grants and dropout prevention. Also on the chopping block are GEAR-UP, TRIO Talent Search, and Upward Bound, programs that have helped generations of disadvantaged students prepare for and attend college.

The President's proposal shortchanges No Child Left Behind by $15 billion, putting more pressure on schools already struggling to meet the one-size-fits-all requirements of the law.  Find out how the education cuts would affect your state.

The budget proposal also drains $36 billion from Medicare over the next five years and at least $13.8 billion in cuts to Medicaid. Millions of Americans rely on these programs to pay for their basic health care needs ― particularly America 's elders, low-income and working families and their children, and individuals with disabilities.

Take Action

Write a letter to your local newspaper to let your community know what's at stake and to let members of Congress know we will hold them accountable in November.

02/10/06

News from Capitol Hill...

Urge Congress To Invest in Education:

Budget Should Reflect Nation's Priorities

In response to President Bush's budget blueprint for fiscal year 2007, released this Monday, NEA is calling on its members and all friends of public education to urge Congress to increase education funding so that the programs essential to the future of our children have the resources they need.

Bush's budget proposal proposes eliminating 42 education programs, including vocational education, after-school programs, and TRIO and GEAR UP, programs that help disadvantaged students prepare for and attend college. The proposal also shortchanges No Child Left Behind programs by $15 billion, putting more pressure on schools already struggling to meet the one-size-fits-all requirements of the law.

Instead, we must speak out ─ repeatedly ─ for at least a $14 billion increase in overall education funding in the Congressional Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2007 to ensure that critical programs such as Title I, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Pell Grants receive the resources needed to help all students and schools succeed.

Take Action

• Urge your Members of Congress to write a letter to the Chair and/or Ranking Member of the Budget Committee requesting an increase in education funding of at least $14 billion.

Bush Proposes Private School Vouchers . . . Again

Tucked into President Bush's budget proposal for fiscal year 2007 is a request for $100 million to establish the nation’s first voucher program for students in schools that have failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress under No Child Left Behind for six or more years schools. Yet, since the enactment of No Child Left Behind, Congress has provided no money to help turn around troubled schools. 

Tell Congress this voucher proposal is simply another attempt to move an ideological agenda under the guise of helping students in low-performing schools. There is no evidence that vouchers improve student learning. They undermine reform efforts by shifting resources away from public schools. The loss of even a portion of funds when a student goes to a voucher school leaves public schools with fewer resources.

Instead, Congress should invest in opportunities for every student to have the tools for success, including a modern public school with small class sizes; a qualified, certified teacher in every classroom; and access to new technologies. 

Take Action

• Urge your Representative to oppose private school vouchers in any form.

2/03/06

News from Capitol Hill...

Shame!  House Passes Budget that Hurts College Students, Poor Kids and Families

More than 60,000 children will lose Medicaid coverage over the next 10 years.  Middle class and low income students will be forced to take on almost $6,000 more in college loan debt.  And 13 million low-income families and persons, including many who are chronically ill or have disabilities, will face new or higher co-payments for doctor's visits and hospital care.  These are some of the results projected as a consequence of the budget reconciliation bill passed by the House Wednesday, February 1, by a vote of 216-214.  All Democrats and 13 Republicans who broke ranks with their leadership voted against the bill.

The close vote reflected the thousands of calls, e-mails and letters from NEA members and others concerned about the budget’s wrong priorities.  Thank you for speaking out!

The bill, which President Bush has promised to sign, cuts social program funding by about $40 billion over the next five years.  Student loan programs account for the largest share of the cutbacks, $12.7 billion, while Medicaid takes a $7 billion hit.  The student loan cut is the largest in the history of the loan programs.  The budget also undercuts support for other vital services for vulnerable families, including child support enforcement, child care, foster care, and disability assistance.

Look for more of the same kinds of social service cuts when President Bush releases his 2007 budget proposal next week.  His budget is likely to call for new cuts to programs for the needy, such as Medicaid, food stamps and Medicare.