Latest CEF Update… Jeff Begin forwarded message: > From: Joel Packer <jpacker@cef.org> > Subject: Tuesday Update > Date: January 13, 2015 at 5:59:37 PM EST > To: Joel Packer <jpacker@cef.org> > > > > 1. Appropriations/Budget Assignments: > a. While Still not official, Sen. Blunt (R-MO) will take over the chairmanship of the Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee > > b. Alex Keenan, who was Staff Director of the Senate Transportation & Housing Appropriations Subcommittee under Sen. Murray in the last Congress, will be the new Democratic Staff Director of the Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee. > > c. Adrienne Hallett has been promoted to the full committee. She will serve as the senior policy advisor over all the bills. > > d. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), has been appointed to fil the last Democratic slot on House Appropriations. > > e. Rep. Rokita (R-IN) has been named Vice-chair of the House Budget Committee. > > f. Chris Cook will be the Budget Analyst for Function 500 for the Republican majority staff on Senate Budget. > > See attached for an updated CEF list of changes on key committees. I've attached one version that shows who has left as well as who has bene added and another that just shows the make-up of the committees in the new Congress. We are still waiting for final Democratic assignments for the House budget committee, Subcommittee assignments for both House and Senate Appropriations, and House Education and the workforce Committee subcommittee chairs, ranking members and subcommittee members to be named. Each version also shows the top staff for each committee/subcommittee. > > 2. CBO Sequestration Report: Yesterday, CBO released its Final Sequestration Report for Fiscal Year 2015. The report finds that “defense funding for 2015 is equal to its cap and nondefense funding is slightly below its cap; therefore, by CBO’s estimates, no sequestration will be required as a result of those appropriations.” As a reminder, if either defense discretionary spending or NDD spending exceeds its binding spending cap in the Budget Control Act, then OMB is required to issue an across-the-board sequester cut to eliminate such breach. CBO also reminds us that OMB is the final arbiter of whether such a breach occurs. > > CBO also finds that the NDD cap for FY 2016 will be increased by $631 compared to FY 15. While that is somewhat larger than earlier estimates, it is an increase of only 0.13 percent. Again, OMB will make the final determination of the FY 16 cap when it issues its sequestration report, expected to be released on Feb. 2 in conjunction with the President’s budget. > > 3. CBO Budget and Economic Outlook: CBO announced that it will release its annual Budget and Economic Outlook on January 26 at 2 pm. The report will include updated economic and budget projections spanning the period from 2015 to 2025. > > 4. FY 16 President’s Budget: Yesterday, in his ESEA speech (see below for more details) Sec. Duncan announced that the President's budget will include a proposed increase of $1 billion for Title I and an additional increase of $1.7 billion for other as yet unspecified programs for schools. Politics K12 has a piece on this today that quotes me: Sneak Peek at President Obama's Fiscal 2016 Budget Request. I expect the president's budget will not adhere to the sequester level spending caps, but instead fund discretionary programs at the pre-sequester BCA cap. That gives the president $37 billion in increased NDD funding to spread around programs. However, unless Congress raises the NDD cap, those increases won’t happen because, as stated above, the overall NDD cap under current law is essentially frozen. > > 5. ESEA: > a. Senate HELP Chairman Alexander is expected to release late tonight his 387-page ESEA reauthorization discussion draft, entitled “Every Child Ready for College or Career Act of 2015”. As reported by Politics K12, Sen. Alexander's ESEA Draft Offers Two Options on Testing, “Speaking on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon, Alexander emphasized the need to craft the bill in a bipartisan fashion. Beginning Wednesday, he said, committee staff from both sides of the aisle will meet every day to analyze the discussion draft section-by-section to find common ground where it exists.” > > The bill eliminates several currently funded programs including 21st Century Community Schools, SIG, RTTT, I3, Promise Neighborhoods, Preschool development grants, Striving readers, Arts in Education, and School leadership. > > Also see; > · Alexander to Release NCLB Draft As Reauthorization Process Begins (CQ) > · Politico Pro: Whiteboard Archives: Alexander to Propose Two Plans for Testing in NCLB Bill > > b. Also today, Sen. Murray gave a speech on the Senate floor outlining her “ESEA Principles”. See attached for the text. Also see: Sen. Patty Murray Outlines NCLB Reauthorization Priorities > > c. Yesterday, as I am sure everyone knows, Sec. Duncan gave his speech outlining the Administration's ESEA priorities. See: > · U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Calls for Strong Education Law That Protects All Students, Ensures High-Quality Preschool, Supports Bold State and Local Innovation (press release) > · America's Educational Crossroads: Making the Right Choice for Our Children’s Future (text of speech) > · Opportunity Is Not Optional: Secretary Duncan’s Vision for America’s Landmark Education Law > · Duncan defends standardized testing (The Hill) > · Duncan questions GOP plans for 'No Child' (Politico) > > d. Next week on January 22, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman Kline will give a speech on ESEA at AEI: Education reform in the 114th Congress: A conversation with Representative John Kline. One must resister from that link to attend. > > Joel Packer > CEF Executive Director > JPacker@cef.org > 202-383-0083 > 202-255-0915 (cell) > www.cef.org > www.Twitter.com/edfunding > >