I've posted notes re the proposal to eliminate funding for Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty, now there is a proposal to eliminate funding for
purchase of foreign language and research materials (note in particular that
Title VI provides money for law libraries to purchase foreign legal
periodicals and monographs that are not widely available in the U.S.--it
performs a gap-filling function). Lyo.
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Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1993 11:58:30 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Sender: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
From: ALA Washington Office <alawash@ALAWASH.ORG>
Subject: ALAWON Vol. 2, No. 23
X-Cc: library@arizvm1.bitnet, libadmin@umab.BITNET, publib@nysernet.org
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
This issue of ALAWON is being posted to PACS-L, LIBRARY, LIBADMIN, and
PUBLIB. We apologize if you receive duplicate messages.
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ALAWON
ALA Washington Office Newsline
An electronic publication of the
American Library Association Washington Office
Volume 2, Number 23
May 28, 1993
In this issue: (272 lines)
FURTHER ACTION NEEDED ON LIBRARY PROGRAM ELIMINATIONS
ACTION ALSO URGENTLY NEEDED ON FY94 FUNDING FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS
BACKGROUND ON SUPPLEMENTAL
EXCERPTS FROM HOUSE DEBATE ON HR 2244
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FURTHER ACTION NEEDED ON LIBRARY PROGRAM ELIMINATIONS
Congress is now in recess until June 7. Contact legislators at home,
collar them at local events, see them at local offices, or call Washington,
DC staff you may have visited on Library Legislative Day in April.
HOUSE: Continue to contact Representatives to object to the House-passed
elimination of library literacy, college library technology, and library
research and demonstration programs in HR 2244, the FY93 supplemental
stimulus package approved on May 26. Many Members do not yet realize how
the bill's provisions would be paid for. The outrage expressed by library
constituents and others affected is beginning to be felt, but more contacts
are needed to create a climate in which House members would agree if the
Senate later this month made a change in how the supplemental is financed.
SENATE: Alert all Senators to what the House has done, and urge them to
reject the elimination in HR 2244 of funds already appropriated for library
programs in the current fiscal year. Awards are about to be made in all
three of these programs. Jobs are at stake, too. Of the 250 grants about
to be awarded for LSCA VI library literacy projects, more than 90% would
involve the hiring of a literacy project coordinator. Therefore, the House
would eliminate jobs about to be filled in order to create possible future
jobs. The Senate may take up HR 2244 as early as the week of June 7;
decision makers are members of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services
Appropriations Subcommittee and the parent Appropriations Committee.
The address for all Senators is: The Honorable (member's name)
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3121 (Senate Information)
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
AND EDUCATION
Majority Minority
Tom Harkin, IA (Chair) Arlen Specter, PA
Robert Byrd, WV Mark O. Hatfield, OR
Ernest F. Hollings, SC Ted Stevens, AK
Daniel K. Inouye, HI Thad Cochran, MS
Dale Bumpers, AR Slade Gorton, WA
Harry Reid, NV Connie Mack, FL
Herbert Kohl, WI Christopher S. Bond, MO
Patty Murray, WA
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ACTION ALSO URGENTLY NEEDED ON FY94 FUNDING FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMS
In making your contacts with House and Senate, put in a strong pitch for
restoring funds in the next fiscal year (FY94 begins October 1) for library
programs which the Clinton Administration has proposed to eliminate. The
House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee will
meet to make its recommendations on library, education, and other programs
under its jurisdiction on Tuesday, June 8.
There's not much time, and all programs proposed for zeroing out are at
risk, especially those the House has already voted to eliminate in FY93.
We are facing the most imminent threat to library programs that we have
seen in the last few decades. The amount of money is comparatively small.
Library programs can be saved with your help!
The list below shows the Clinton budget for Department of Education library
programs which are currently funded:
PROGRAM FY 1993 FY 1994 ADMIN.
FUNDING REQUEST
Library Services and Construction Act $128,626,000 $114,700,000
I, public library services 83,227,000 95,000,000
II, public library construction 16,584,000 0
III, interlibrary cooperation 19,749,000 19,749,000
IV, Indian library services (2% of LSCA I, II, and III)
V, foreign language materials 968,000 0
VI, library literacy programs 8,098,000 0
Higher Education Act $15,623,000 $0
II-A, college library tech. & coop. 3,873,000 0
II-B, library education 4,960,000 0
II-C, research library resources 5,808,000 0
VI, sec. 607, foreign research materials 982,000 0
The address for all Representatives is: The Honorable (member's name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-3121 (House Information)
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
AND EDUCATION
Majority Minority
William H. Natcher, KY (Chair) John Edward Porter, IL
Neal Smith, IA C.W. Bill Young, FL
David R. Obey, WI Helen Delich Bentley, MD
Louis Stokes, OH Henry Bonilla, TX
Steny H. Hoyer, MD
Nancy Pelosi, CA
Nita M. Lowey, NY
Jose E. Serrano, NY
Rosa L. DeLauro, CT
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BACKGROUND ON SUPPLEMENTAL
On May 26, the House passed by a vote of 287-140 a supplemental
appropriations bill which would rescind funds already appropriated in FY93
for three library programs. HR 2244, a scaled-down version of the
Administration's stimulus package, eliminates all funds about to be awarded
for the Higher Education Act title II-A college library technology and
cooperation grants, the HEA II-B library research and demonstration
program, and the Library Services and Construction Act title VI library
literacy program:
ELIMINATIONS INCLUDED IN HOUSE-PASSED HR 2244
HEA II-A college lib. tech. $ 3,873,000
HEA II-B research & demo. 2,749,000
LSCA VI library literacy 8,098,000
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TOTAL 14,720,000
These programs are only weeks away from sending out awards. Applications
have been developed and submitted, and peer review has been completed.
LSCA VI creates jobs; more than 90% of the 250 awards about to be made
involve the hiring of a literacy coordinator. As we stated before, it is
simply outrageous to pay for summer jobs, tree planting, and public works
projects by eliminating effective library, literacy, and education
programs.
The House report (H. Rept. 103-105) on HR 2244 indicates the 14 education
programs rescinded by the House (including the 3 library programs) are
those the President proposed to eliminate in FY94, and for which FY93
funding had not yet been obligated. "The Committee would not under normal
circumstances terminate programs on such short notice. In this case,
however, the President's Supplemental request is needed on an emergency
basis to fund additional summer jobs for disadvantaged youth. Immediate
savings are required to fund this emergency requirement."
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EXCERPTS FROM HOUSE DEBATE ON HR 2244
_Congressional Record_, May 26, 1993 (No. 76, part II):
Mr. Natcher (D-KY):
As my colleagues know, in the Labor-Health and Human Services-
Education Subcommittee section of the bill, we have rescissions for 14
education programs some of which we have carried in our bills down
through the years. Each 1 of the 14 was funded in the 1993 bill. No
part of the money for 1993 has been consumed up to this time.
All 14 of these bills were left out of President Clinton's budget
request for the fiscal 1994, but that does not mean necessarily, Mr.
Chairman, that they will stay out of the 1994 appropriations act....
I believe the issue with the 14 education programs has been
explained to the satisfaction of the members of this Committee with
the colloquy between the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Ford] and
myself. (p. H 2881)
In the colloquy, Rep. Ford (D-MI) said:
It is my understanding that the Committee on Appropriations,
which you so ably chair, is not bound by the President's budget
submission for fiscal 1994 and, at the appropriate time, you will
judge each of these programs on its merits. I also seek your
assurance that the rescissions in this bill do not in any way indicate
how your committee will treat these programs in your fiscal 1994 bill.
Rep. Natcher replied:
...the committee is not bound by the President's fiscal year 1994
budget proposal. The Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services
and Education, which I chair, will not necessarily base our fiscal
year 1994 funding recommendation on the recommendation in this
supplemental appropriation bill. These were done to fund summer jobs.
I assure the Members that we will give consideration to each
individual program on its merits.
Today's supplemental certainly does not preclude any program from
being funded in fiscal year 1994. In addition, I want to assure
Members that I remain open to any alternative reductions to fund this
summer jobs bill if they can be found before this bill goes to
conference. (p. H 2882)
Only two Representatives specifically mentioned library programs. Rep.
Mink (D-HI) said:
...While I believe this Nation desperately needs an economic stimulus
package, I do not believe that it is wise policy to accomplish this
task on the backs of our Nation's students.
This bill will in one fell swoop eliminate 14 education programs
--programs that students depend on to get funds to go to college,
programs to train teachers, and improve writing skills, give students
practical work experience while going to college, improve libraries,
and provide bilingual vocational training.
The programs that will be eliminated in this bill include:...
Library Programs which provide adult literacy services at public
libraries, improve technology for elementary and secondary schools,
college and public libraries.
Mr. Chairman, I am deeply distressed that we are being asked to
cut education funds for the children of America, by eliminating
programs which have proven records of success in improving educational
and employment opportunities for the most needy in our Nation.
While we can deem funds for the Department of Defense as
emergency spending, we are forced to rob the coffers of our schools to
pay for job programs and economic stimulus. The economic situation of
our country is a true emergency and denying educational and employment
opportunities will only serve to exacerbate our domestic problems
which have crisis proportions.
It is with great disappointment and reluctance that I raise these
objections. I could not in good conscience allow this debate to go
forward without pointing out the great impacts these rescissions will
cause.
I hope, as the chairman said, that these funds can be restored in
conference. (p. H 2885)
Rep. Collins (D-IL) [incorrectly referred to as Collins of Michigan in the
Record) supported the bill, but with reservations:
p Regrettably, we have had to pay for the limited moneys for summer
jobs and other good programs in this bill with rescissions in equally
important programs, i.e., the $14.7 million cut in sorely needed
library and literacy funding. This will result in the dramatic
scaling back to funds for many public libraries in my district which
have already sustained drastic budget cuts at the local level. In
Chicago, many libraries have already not only had to shorten their
hours, but have had to close their doors on certain days of the week.
So, in addition to not having jobs, the kids in my district have
limited access to library facilities. Now included in that $14.7
billion [should be $14.7 million] cut was $8 million for literacy
programs which train librarians and volunteers to work with children
and adults who are trying to learn to read. How anyone can be proud
of this is beyond comprehension. (p. H 2888)
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