May 9, 2005
Hello TRIO Community!
As Congress prepares to begin action on the 2006 Appropriations bills, I want to give you a brief update of what is happening in Washington. Last week, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) proposed a $142.51 billion allocation for the Labor/HHS/Education subcommittee. This money, which equals the total allotment the subcommittee is allowed to spend for FY 2006, is $924 million above the President's request, but $163 million below FY 2005. The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet released its subcommittee allocations.
This week, the House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up two of the eleven spending bills (Homeland Security and Interior). There has been no scheduled markup date of the Labor/HHS/Education bill and it is widely speculated that the earliest movement in the House on the bill would be in early June. Although Chairman Lewis has committed to passing all eleven bills by the July 4th recess, the Senate has not yet set a timeline for the Senate Appropriations Committee to complete action on the spending bills.
If you have a Member of Congress or Senator who serves on the Appropriations Committee (please see links below to view the committees Member lists), please continue to contact their education legislative assistants in support of the TRIO programs. Also, if this Member or Senator has a town hall meeting over the next month (including Memorial Day recess), please try and make sure TRIO representatives are represented and voicing your community's support for the TRIO programs.
I will continue to provide frequent updates as we move into this crucial time. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Thanks again and keep up the fight!
Senate Appropriations List -- <http://appropriations.senate.gov/members/members.htm>
House Appropriations List -- <http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.MemberList&SubcommittteeId=18\>
Heather
Heather Valentine
Vice President, Public Policy
Council for Opportunity in Education
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW Suite 900
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (202) 347-7430
Fax: (202) 347-0786