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Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 15:54:54 +0500
From: Ann Wild <Ann.Wild@nsta.org>
Subject: It's Final: Eisenhower Funded at $310 Million for 1997
To: NSTA.Grassroots.Legislative.Network@spoon.nsta.org
On September 30, the Senate did pass and the
President signed the fiscal 1997 spending bill that
included the Eisenhower Program funded at $310
million. The following tells the complete story should
you want to pass it along to colleagues.
_____________________________________________
Eisenhower Program Reinstated;
Funding Increased by $35 Million, to $310 Million
On Saturday, Sept. 28, the House passed a compromise
omnibus spending bill for fiscal 1997, by a vote of
370-37. Yesterday the Senate followed with a vote of
84-15, and the President signed the measure.
Embedded in that bill, which was passed and
signed just hours before the start of the fiscal year
at midnight, was the fate of the Eisenhower
Professional Development program (Title II.)
The bill reinstates the Eisenhower Professional
Development Program as a SEPARATE entity
to be funded at $310 million in fiscal 1997, which is
$35 million HIGHER than in fiscal 1996. Title VI
(formerly Chapter 2) was also funded at $310 million.
(Since the Eisenhower program is forward-funded, this
means that fiscal 1997 funds will be available in
summer 1997 for use during the 1997-1998 school year.)
For days, until the wee hours of Saturday morning,
House and Senate members and representatives of the
Administration worked to draft a compromise spending
bill that would be acceptable to the House, Senate, and
the President. The $600-billion bill covers spending
for education as well as for defense, jobs programs,
environmental protection, law enforcement, foreign aid,
health research, and a range of other activities.
The outpouring of support for Eisenhower from
teachers nationwide was key in getting Congress to
reinstate the Eisenhower program as a way to fund
critically needed professional development.
In addition, Congressional concern over the
outcome of the upcoming elections as well as polls
showing that education is one of the top issues on
voter's minds dovetailed to help raise education
spending across the board by $4 billion.
We urge you and your colleagues to write letters to
your Senators and Representatives thanking them for
their support in reinstating the Eisenhower program and
increasing its funding.
PLEASE ALSO SEND A COPY of your letter to
Representative John E. Porter, chair of the Labor,
Health and Human Services, Education and Related
Agencies Subcommittee. In that position, he played a
key role during the House-Senate compromise sessions in
reinstating funds for the Eisenhower program.
Representative Porter's address is 2358 Rayburn House
Office Building, Washington, DC 20515.
The last few months demonstrate once again, that
letters and phone calls from constituents DO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
Congratulations on the very positive outcome YOU
helped bring about!
Ann Wild
Office of Public Information
National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
ann.wild@nsta.org
703/312-9247 (phone) 703/243-7177 (FAX)