Well, unsurprisingly, I’m one of the anxious folks Sheryl’s been talking to. Also on the receiving end of a few anxious texts myself from my fellow CEF officers. Anyway, I think Sheryl’s update below is really good. Level-headed and not panicky. To expand a bit on point #3 below, Republicans will be able to pass a budget next year that resembles those that Speaker Ryan has proposed in recent years, and it will in all likelihood be approved by the President. The critical fight, then, will be a few notches up from advocating for specific programs (like adult education) — that is, a much more fundamental struggle over the role of the federal government and federal spending in general. The discussion we’ll need to have as adult education advocates, IMO, is where to focus our energies at the federal level — continuing our messaging on the value of adult ed, or shifting more to the larger fight over NDD funding in general. Or something else? Working to elect new people to Congress in 2018? I have no idea. Anyway, we have a policy call at 4 to discuss this and other matters. Talk to you then! Jeff > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Sheryl Cohen <cohen@cef.org> > Subject: Post-election note/update: 11/9/2016 > Date: November 9, 2016 at 2:51:59 PM EST > To: CEFMembersList <CEFMembersList@cef.org> > > > > > Wednesday, November 9, 2016 > > > Dear CEF Members: > > While no election can be predicted with certainty, suffice it to say last night’s election result was a surprise to many – pundit and citizen alike. I’ve heard from many of you today and the anxiousness folks are feeling about what this means for education policy and funding is more than understandable. We were already facing a daunting budget environment even if strong Member advocates supportive of increasing the federal investment in education had won last night. > > Some of the challenges are clear: > 1. Bills funding the federal government for fiscal year 2017 that are not yet finished, with low starting points for education funding in the Labor-HHS-Education bills approved by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The parameters are unlikely to change with the Congress remaining Republican. > 2. The cap on non-defense discretionary (NDD) spending for 2018 that is lower than the current, tight cap for 2017. > 3. Past Republican budget resolutions dramatically lowered that already-low NDD cap and the levels for the following years to offset increases in defense spending, which is likely the path the next Congress will follow. > 4. There will be a new chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee next year who will oversee efforts to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. It is likely Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who has not supported efforts to increase college aid. > > That said, the election is over, and there will be new leaders, proposals, and challenges next year. The results will require education advocates – and everyone else – to adjust strategies for the near and the long term, including in the upcoming lame duck session, the transition, and the new Administration next year. As we’ve discussed in our meetings, ACG has strong bipartisan relationships, including with the Trump campaign, and we will use those relationships on CEF’s behalf as the transition and timing become clearer. We will be updating you via our regular emails, as well as having the opportunity for direct member discussion at our upcoming in-session Friday meetings scheduled for November 18th, December 2nd and December 9th. Please note, our Annual Meeting is also Friday, December 16th. > > Finally, please note we have planned our post-election brief for November 16th. ACG has/had lined up a fantastic speaker for this event but unfortunately he may now need to change the date. Please stay tuned and we’ll confirm for you by this Friday November 11th. > > Our mission to increase the federal investment in education will not change. We will continue to point out the results of education investments – for students immediately and for economic growth in the long term. We will need to communicate well, broaden our community of advocates, and target our efforts so they are as effective as possible. > > My best, > > Sheryl > > > Sheryl V. Cohen, Executive Director > > 1800 M Street, NW > Suite 500 South > Washington, DC 20036 > T: 202-327-8125 > cohen@cef.org <mailto:cohen@cef.org> > www.cef.org <http://www.cef.org/>