CEC legislative update June 23, 2006

House, Senate Education Funding Measures Move Forward; Many Programs
Under Funded, Cut or Eliminated

As we reported in last week’s update, the House Appropriations Committee has voted to cut education by $400 million – which will under-fund, cut or completely eliminate some education programs – including those serving students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.  This week, the Senate has taken the first step in considering funding levels for individual education programs such as IDEA and the Javits program.

On the chopping block to be eliminated in the House is the only federally funded program to support the education of students with gifts and talents, the Javits program.  CEC and its members have strongly advocated for the Javits program – a program that has funded 160 programs in major cities and small towns across the country to ensure that gifted students have the opportunity to excel in an educational setting that is fitting for their intellectual needs.  While the Javits program is considered a small program by Congressional standards, it has made a monumental impact in the lives of students with gifts and talents in inner city, suburban and rural schools.  Like last year, the House Appropriations Committee has proposed to eliminate the Javits program, but due to the constant advocacy by CEC members, Congress voted to cut the Javits program by $1.3 million, instead of eliminating it.  This year we face another uphill battle – and CEC members will have to be louder in their support for the Javits program.  Take a moment to personalize a letter CEC has prepared on the Legislative Action Center. (http://capwiz.com/cek/home/)  Your support for the Javits program will make a difference as both the House and Senate consider the education funding measure.  Click here to take action!  

In keeping with tradition, the House Appropriations Committee has voted to drastically under-fund IDEA, the nation’s special education law.  Despite Congress’ 31-year promise to fund 40 percent of the cost of educating students in special education, this proposal by the House Appropriations Committee would actually bring the federal commitment from 17.8 percent to only 17.1 percent!  For years, CEC and its members have led the charge on Capitol Hill to hold Congress to its promise of fully funding IDEA.  Unfortunately, year after year, Congress passes education funding bills that in theory provide additional monies for IDEA but in reality – due to the increase of students receiving special education and the increase in the cost of providing mandated services – lower the federal commitment to helping states pay for the education of students with disabilities.  This year is no different.  The House Appropriations Committee has voted to increase IDEA Part B funding for states by $150 million bringing the total support to $10.7 billion, well short of the $16.9 billion CEC has formally recommended to Congress.  CEC urges its members to continue their advocacy for full funding of IDEA by visiting the Legislative Action Center and personalizing an email to your member of Congress.  As early as next week, the full House may consider these inadequate education funding levels. 

Yesterday, June 22, the Senate Appropriations Committee took the first step in proposing funding levels for all programs affecting Americans, including education, defense, energy and much more. This step provides subcommittees of the Senate Appropriations Committee – including the subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education – with funding caps for all programs that fall under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction.  For example, the subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education received a 1.1 percent increase in the amount of money it can spend on individual labor, health and education programs.  Over the next few weeks, the Senate Labor-HHS-Education subcommittee is expected to propose program-funding recommendations for fiscal year 2007 and in mid-July the full Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to vote on those recommendations.  Therefore, as the Senate moves forward in its deliberations over funding levels for specific education programs, CEC will continue to be an active advocate for increasing funding for IDEA and the Javits program for students with gifts and talents – but we need your help!  Personalize a message to your Senators for more funding for IDEA and the Javits program by visiting CEC’s Legislative Action Center .

CEC will continue to keep you informed of the latest information unfolding on Capitol Hill as it relates to students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.  CEC thanks its member advocates for their loud voice in supporting special and gifted education.  Take a moment to support students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents by visiting CEC’s Legislative Action Center. 

Read CEC’s IDEA full funding document. 

Tell Congress to support students with disabilities and/or gifts and talents! 

House Extends Higher Education Act For Fourth Time

Although the House passed a five-year renewal of the Higher Education Act in March, inaction by the Senate has led to the passage of a fourth temporary measure to keep the bill as current law until September 30, 2006. 

On March 30, 2006, two years after its introduction, the House passed the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act – also called The College Access and Opportunity Act, by a 221-199 vote. 

The Higher Education Act (HEA) authorizes the federal government's major student-aid programs and other important education initiatives.  While the federal government provides only about 9 percent of funding to elementary and secondary schools, it provides roughly 30 percent of funds for higher education.  The current authorization of the Act expired two years ago, although Congress has passed intermediate measures to extend HEA funding provisions without actually reauthorizing the entire Act.  

It remains uncertain when the Senate will consider HEA as Senators are continuing to negotiate over controversial issues such as student loan programs.  Look for additional information in future Updates! 

Read more about HEA as it was passed in the House.

Read CEC’s analysis and recommendations for HEA.