Federal Legislative Update
July 2007
July 12, 2007
July 19, 2007
July 25, 2007
7/25/07
News from Capitol Hill...
Urge Members of Congress to Support Anti-Bullying Bill
As a matter of sound education policy, no student should be subjected to bullying or harassment that interferes with the student's ability to learn. Our nation's schools face longstanding challenges in preventing and effectively responding to instances of bullying and harassment. Current federal law supports school safety policies but does not specifically address bullying and harassment.
Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) has introduced the bipartisan Safe Schools Improvement Act (H.R. 3132), which would require schools and districts to prohibit bullying and harassment explicitly in their codes of conduct. The bill would also require states to include bullying and harassment data in their statewide needs assessments to address school safety.
Contact Your Members of Congress
See if your Representative is a cosponsor of H.R. 3132 and urge Members who have not already done so to cosponsor the bill.
7/19/07
News from Capitol Hill...
Innovative Presidential Debate Sponsored by CNN and YouTube to Be Held Next Week
Watch What the Candidates Say about Education!
On Monday, July 23, CNN and YouTube will host a presidential debate in Charleston, South Carolina, in which the eight Democratic presidential candidates will answer questions submitted via YouTube videos. A similar debate will be held September 17 for Republican candidates.
Over 40 education-related questions have already been submitted to YouTube for consideration. For example, check out these clips:
Questions can be submitted via YouTube until July 22 at http://www.youtube.com/debates.
Watch the debate on Monday evening on CNN from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm (ET) to see what the candidates say about education.
7/12/07
News from Capitol Hill...
Tell Congress: Don't Let the President Veto Education Funding!
The House of Representatives is scheduled to take up the education funding bill for fiscal year 2008 next week. The President has threatened a veto unless Congress cuts billions from health and education programs. The bill would provide a long-overdue increase for education funding, including much-needed increases for Pell grants, Title I, and other programs under No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
For example, the bill would:
- Raise the maximum Pell grant by $390 to $4,700, benefiting over 5.5 million students.
- Increase funding for programs under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), including an increase for Title I that would benefit nearly 55,000 Title I schools and would fund reading and math instruction for an additional 161,000 low-income students.
- Reverse a two-year decline in the federal contribution toward the rising costs of special education for 6.9 million children with disabilities.
- Increase funding for teacher quality programs, after-school centers, and Head Start.
The House must pass the bill by a veto-proof margin to protect education funding!
Contact Your Member of Congress
Tell your Representative to Vote YES on the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations funding bill for fiscal year 2008.
|
Printer friendly
E-mail
Subscribe
