Folks, CEF is initiating a Twitterstorm this coming Tuesday to to encourage Congress to raise the non-defense discretionary (NDD) cap and allocate more funding for education 2018 appropriations bill. Sarah Aberthathy has sent out information on how you can participate - copied below. Jeff > Begin forwarded message: > > > > > Wednesday, November 29, 2017 > > Dear CEF Members: > > I. Twitterstorm to #RaiseTheCaps to increase #edfunding > > · Twitterstorm to #RaiseTheCaps to increase #edfunding – Please join CEF’s Twitterstorm on Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 10:30-11:30am ET, to encourage Congress to raise the non-defense discretionary (NDD) cap and then allocate more funding for education investments in the final fiscal year 2018 appropriations bill. We hope all Twitter-using CEF members will tweet during that one hour using the hash tags #RaiseTheCaps and #edfunding, using your best examples of why federal investments are so important. Until then, feel free to share the attached infographic advertising the Twitterstorm. > > · Advocacy Toolkit – We’ve created the attached toolkit that has sample tweets, a letter to Congress, and links to charts and fact sheets you can use. The materials are also listed below and on CEF’s website here <https://cef.org/advocacy/how-you-can-help/>. > > Sample tweets > · Federal investment in education is almost $1 billion less than in 2010, excl. Pell grants. Congress must #RaiseTheCaps to increase #edfunding > > · Congress is poised to cut #edfunding, which is only 2% of fed budget. Ask Congress to invest in ed – fact sheets & sample letter at cef.org/advocacy/how-you-can-help/ <https://cef.org/advocacy/how-you-can-help/> > · Tell Congress to #RaiseTheCaps and make #edfunding a priority! Sample letter & fact sheets at cef.org/advocacy/how-you-can-help/ <https://cef.org/advocacy/how-you-can-help/> > · Congress is deciding the 2018 budget – ask your Rep/Sen to #RaiseTheCaps to increase #edfunding. Sample letter & info at cef.org/advocacy/how-you-can-help/ <https://cef.org/advocacy/how-you-can-help/> > · Congress needs to increase #edfunding in FY2018 appropriations -longer term goal is to reach 5% of budget > > > Charts <https://cef.org/charts-and-resources/charts/> available to tweet (scroll to “2017 Advocacy Toolkit charts” for tweetable versions) > · 2018 Education Funding Far Below 2010 Level Excluding Pell Grants > > · Education Funding Bill Cut the Most in 2018 > > · Education Accounts for Just 2% of All Federal Spending > > · Non-Defense Discretionary Levels > > > Fact sheets > · “5 Cents Makes Sense” <https://cef.org/wp-content/uploads/08.01.17-5-Cents-Makes-Sense.pdf> campaign to increase education investment to 5% of the federal budget > > · Why <https://cef.org/wp-content/uploads/08.01.17-Fact-Sheet-Federal-Education-Investment.pdf> we need a larger federal investment in education > > · Myth v Fact <https://cef.org/wp-content/uploads/03.02.17-Myth-v-Fact-on-Education-Funding.pdf> on education funding > > > Sample Letter to Congress (You can find your representative here <https://www.house.gov/> and your senators here <https://www.senate.gov/>) > > [date] > Dear Senator/Representative [name]: > > As one of your constituents, I am writing to urge you to repeal the non-defense sequester-level spending caps and match any increases in defense spending with equal increases in non-defense spending. Congress needs to act quickly to pass a budget deal that accommodates necessary investments, including significantly increasing vital federal investments in education for fiscal year 2018 and beyond. This education funding not only provides opportunities and needed services for students, their families, and schools; it also strengthens our economy and nation. > > Individual success and the nation’s economic strength are inextricably tied to educational attainment. For instance, students who graduate from college earn more and have lower unemployment rates than individuals with just a high school degree. In addition, every one dollar invested in early childhood education saves at least seven dollars in later societal costs. Overall, countries with higher educational achievement have greater economic growth. Despite these proven benefits of investing in education, education funding accounts for merely two percent of the federal budget. I encourage you to work towards increasing the share of the budget devoted to education to five percent of the federal budget, and to reject the education cuts in the 2018 appropriations proposals. > > I and your other constituents are counting on strong federal education investments to ensure access to high quality education from pre-school to higher education. These vital investments also fill gaps where local and state funding is insufficient, and help with the costs of federally mandated services, such as special education. By eliminating sequester caps and increasing education funding, Congress can help improve student achievement and our nation’s economic strength. Thank you for your consideration. > > Sincerely, > [Your name] > > > - Sarah > > Sarah Abernathy, Deputy Executive Director > > 1800 M Street, NW > Suite 500 South > Washington, DC 20036 > T: 202-327-8125 > abernathy@cef.org <mailto:abernathy@cef.org> > www.cef.org <http://www.cef.org/> > Twitter @edfunding >