CEC legislative update January 27, 2006

 

Senators Introduce IDEA Full Funding Legislation; CEC Named as Supporter

 

 On January 25, 2006, Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S. 2185, the "IDEA Full Funding Act". This legislation would fulfill Congress' commitment to fully funding IDEA at 40 percent per pupil expenditure by mandating incremental spending increases to reach $26.1 billion by the year 2011. This bill calls for the same incremental funding levels for IDEA that were authorized in IDEA 2004. CEC joined other organizations in supporting this legislation, which has garnered the support of 22 Senators.

For 30 years, Congress has pledged to fully funding IDEA, but unfortunately this commitment remains unfulfilled. Just last year, Congress voted to reduce the federal commitment to IDEA from 18.6 percent to 17.8 percent – a step backwards! The Hagel-Harkin bill would establish a funding schedule to ensure that IDEA is fully funded by 2011.

Urge your Senators to co-sponsor S. 2185 by visiting CEC’s Legislative Action Center
Senators who have joined Sen. Hagel and Harkin as co-sponsors include: Sen. Bingaman (D-NM), Sen. Chafee (R-RI), Sen. Coleman (R-MN), Sen. Collins (R-ME), Sen. Dayton (D-MN), Sen. Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Jeffords (I-VT), Sen. Johnson (SD), Sen. Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Lieberman (D-CT), Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Murray (D-WA), Sen. Reed (R-RI), Sen. Reid (D-NV), Sen. Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Snowe (R-ME), Sen. Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Warner (R-VA).

Read Sen. Hagel’s Press Release on Full Funding – and look for mention of CEC! Click Here

Visit CEC’s Legislative Action Center to Urge Your Senators to Co-Sponsor S. 2185 Click Here

Tell the House Not to Cut $12.7 Billion from Student Loans in Budget Vote

 

The House is expected to vote on a budget reconciliation measure (S. 1932), which includes a provision to strip $12.7 billion from the federal student loan program, the largest cut in student loan history. CEC firmly rejects these unprecedented cuts to student loans, which will result in students being forced to work more or borrow more privately to reach their higher education goals, or forgo them completely.

In addition, the bill freezes interest rates for student loans at 6.9 percent, even if commercial interest rates are lower. Other programs that will be cut for the first time in a decade include Medicaid and Medicare.

Click here to tell Your Member of Congress to Vote Against Budget Reconciliation!

The controversial nature of the budget reconciliation conference report has caused it to ping pong between the House and Senate. Originally, in the early morning hours of December 16, the House voted to approve the conference report by a narrow 212-206 margin. Days later, on December 21, Vice President Cheney had to cut short his trip to the Middle East to cast the deciding vote (51-50), with four Republicans and all Democrats voting against the conference report. Because the Senate approved an amended version of the report, the House must now reconsider the measure in a vote expected on February 1.

Click here to contact your member of Congress today!

 

Department of Education Launches Online Evidence-Based Education Help Desk

 
The What Works Clearinghouse of the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences has unveiled a new online resource – the Evidence-Based Education Help Desk. The goal of the Help Desk is to provide easy-to-use resources to advance evidence-based education.

Access the Help Desk by clicking here: http://whatworkshelpdesk.ed.gov

 

 

   

 
Last updated: October 5, 2007
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