Federal Legislative Update
October 2008

October 10, 2008
October 2, 2008

10/10/08

News From Capitol Hill ...

Tell Congress: Help Struggling States Protect Health Care

Although Congress has adjourned for the campaign season, the economic crisis continues. As many as 27 states are predicting deficits for this fiscal year of at least $25 billion. A growing number of states have made or are considering harmful cuts in health care, education and other vital services:

• Many school districts are being forced to raise prices for school meals due to escalating food costs.
• Rising fuel costs are forcing school districts to take drastic measures, including trimming or eliminating bus service, cutting all field trips, or shortening the school week.
• Some states have already been forced to layoff school staff. For example, Detroit has laid off 700 teachers; Los Angeles has laid off 500 administrators; and Miami-Dade County has laid off hundreds of school psychologists, maintenance workers, and custodians.
• California is short $3 billion just this month to pay teachers and fund education programs.

Although Congress has taken some steps to address the economic crisis, more is needed to help states facing severe budget deficits. One proven, effective way to help states is to provide a temporary increase in federal matching funds for Medicaid costs. Such an increase will help relieve budget pressure and stave off cuts to education and health care.

Contact your Representatives in Congress Today!
Tell Members of Congress who are back home campaigning to help states avoid deep cuts in education and health care.

You Did It! Victories for Education in the 110th Congress!!

NEA cyberlobbyists helped secure a number of victories for children and public education in the past week as part of the economic recovery bill:

• Rural Schools: Reauthorization and funding of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.
  
• Educator Tax Relief: Extension of the deduction for instructional materials and classroom supplies, which had been set to expire at the end of the year.
  
• School Construction: Extension of the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds program, which was set to expire at the end of the year. This program will help meet the pressing need for modernization-renovating, repairing, and installing 21st century technology in schools in urban and rural communities.
  
• Child Tax Credit: Expansion of the Child Tax Credit, increasing eligibility for many working families.
  
• Mental Health Parity: Providing parity in coverage for mental health services to ensure treatment for mental as well as physical conditions that impair the ability to learn and succeed in school.

You also helped NEA secure many victories for children and public education throughout the 110th Congress (2007-2008), including:

• Education Funding: The Fiscal Year 2008 (October 1 2007-September 30-2008), "omnibus" funding bill included $3 billion more for education programs than requested by the President.
  
• Head Start -Increased funding for Head Start, provided support for professional development, and retained civil rights protections for Head Start employees.
  
• Higher Education Act Reauthorization: Raised the Pell Grant maximum award; created a fellowship program to help minorities and women enter the professoriate; and authorized scholarships, support programs, and counseling for community college students.
  
• College Affordability: Reduced interest rates on subsidized student loans, shaving some $4,400 off the average individual student's debt load; created new tuition assistance grants for qualified undergraduates who commit to teaching in public schools in high-poverty communities or high-need subject areas; and allowed eligible schools to improve and expand services for low-income Asian American and Pacific Islander students.
  
• Internet Safety: Required schools participating in the E-Rate program to educate students about appropriate behavior on social networking and chat room sites and about cyber-bullying.
  
• Medicaid for Students with Special Needs: Delayed scheduled Medicaid reimbursement cuts for school-based, transportation, and/or rehabilitation services, allowing students with medical needs to continue receiving the school-based services they need.
  
• Nutrition: Provided $10.4 billion in new spending for nutrition programs that help 38 million American families afford healthy food.
  
• Medicare: Congress overrode the President's veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act. The bill will result in much improved access to affordable, high quality medical care and pharmaceutical services for Medicare beneficiaries in rural and urban areas.
  
• Minimum Wage: Minimum wage - Increased the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour.
  
• Unemployment Compensation: Extended unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks for people who have exhausted their benefits.
  
• Americans with Disabilities Act: Overturned four Supreme Court decisions that eroded the protections of people with disabilities under the ADA.
  

  10/02/08

  News From Capitol Hill ...

  Tell Your Representative: Vote YES on H.R. 1424

  Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed H.R.1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act. Urge your representative to support this bill because it addresses issues critically important to children and public education. This bill would:

  • Extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.
  • Maintain the educator tax deduction for instructional materials and classroom supplies.
  • Continue Qualified Zone Academy Bonds for school modernization.
  • Expand the Child Tax Credit.
  • Provide mental health parity.

  Contact the U.S. House of Representatives TODAY!
  Urge your elected representatives to support H.R. 1424