NCL Members, Here’s the latest CEF update. The most important thing here is the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, which was released yesterday and voted on by the committee today. Bottom line: The bill level funds adult ed state grants and cuts national leadership. Remember though that, while important, this bill in its present form is not going to become law. In fact, it is very unlikely we will end up with any agreed upon set of appropriations bills this year — all signs point to a budget deal late in the year. Joel has included a link to a table he has prepared showing, based on his own best intelligence, all the funding levels (committee’s own table will be out 24 hours prior to the full committee markup), and a helpful paper summarizing the programs cut/eliminated, as well as the few programs that received increases. The increases are instructive — it shows you why having a legislative champion in a subcommittee or committee chair seat is so critical. I doubt it is a coincidence that Rep. Cole — who is from Oklahoma — chairs this subcommittee and both Indian Education and Impact Aid got increases. Jeff > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Joel Packer <jpacker@cef.org> > To: Joel Packer <jpacker@cef.org> > Subject: Wednesday Update > Date: June 17, 2015 at 4:11:59 PM EDT > > > > > 1. FY 2016 House L-HHS-ED Bill: The House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Committee this morning reported out its FY 16 bill on a party line vote. Several Democratic amendments were offered and all defeated on party line votes, though Subcommittee Chairman Cole stated that he was sympathetic to many of them, and if he had a higher allocation would work with Rep. DeLauro on increasing funds for some programs. Full Committee markup is expected next week. That date has not been set yet, but I think Wednesday is most likely. The draft committee report and table will be released 24 hours prior to the full committee markup. > > Before turning to the amendments, based on what was said at the markup, we have a little more information on what is in the bill. We know that the $370 million cut to the Student Financial Aid account is all from Pell grants, and thus both SEOG and FWS are frozen. We know that ESEA Title II, Teacher Quality State grants is cut by $668 million (-28.4%). > > Based on what we know, I put together this table that shows the proposed funding levels <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B19p6j32JwToWlZkNXc2TkQ0RGs/view?usp=sharing> for each program. As you can see, for many programs, particularly the higher education programs, I do not yet have exact numbers. Please share those if you have them. > > Also see this updated list we prepared of programs eliminated <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B19p6j32JwToNDRUT2JWRXc4Y2s/view?usp=sharing>, cut, frozen and increased, along with updated list of policy riders. It shows that overall K12 funding is cut by a net of $2 billion (including the increase of $502 million for IDEA State grants). > > During the markup, the following amendments were offered that affected education: > · DeLauro comprehensive amendment which added some $11 billion to programs throughout the bill. Included in the amendment was an increase of $1 billion for Title I ($500 million each for Targeted Assistance Grants and Education Finance Incentive Grants), $506 million for SIG, $160 million for Striving Readers, $153 million for Math-Science Partnership, $668 million for ESEA Title II, $230 million for TIF, $120 million for I3, $750 million for Preschool Development grants, $10 million for Full Service Community Schools, an additional $372 million for other programs in the Innovation and Improvement Account (can’t tell the exact breakdown, but it includes Advanced placement, Magnets, Arts, School Leadership, and Ready to Learn TV), $90 million for Safe and Drug-Free Schools, $36 million for English Language Acquisition grants, $370 million for Pell, $48 million for higher education programs (I think this is mostly to restore the Teacher Quality Partnership program), and $55 million for IES (can’t tell how distributed). > > · DeLauro early education amendment to restore Head Start, CCDBG and Preschool Development grants to the president's levels. Cole was particularly sympathetic to more funding for early education. > > · Fattah amendment to add $1 billion for Title I (as with DeLauro spilt 50-50 between targeted and EFIG), $668 for ESEA Title II, and $36 million for English language grants > > · Lee amendment focused on workforce training, but included $200 million within CTEfor the American Technical Training Fund. > > · DeLauro amendment to add $90 million for Safe and Drug-Free Schools, increase Promise Neighborhoods by $93 million, provide $60 million for physical education, and $49.6 million for school counseling. > > · Lowey amendment to restore the $370 million Pell grant cut. Cole said a big part of the problem of increased college costs is due to states cutting their share of higher education funding and institutions raising costs. He was very negative about states cutting higher ed funding. > > See: > · Democrats Protest Labor-HHS Spending Levels in Markup <http://www.cq.com/doc/news-4708069?4&srcpage=news&srcsec=cqn> (CQ) > · NIH boost masks GOP cuts elsewhere from Obama's budget <http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/national-institute-health-obama-budget-gop-cuts-119054.html?hp=b1_r3> (Politico) > > 2. FY 2016 Senate labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill: While not announced, the Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to markup its Labor-HHS-ED Appropriations bill next week – probably Tuesday in Subcommittee and Thursday in full Committee. > > 3. Other Appropriations Action: > · The White House today made clear that the president would veto the defense appropriations bill. Here’s the CQ Roll Call transcript of today’s briefing of White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest responding to Bloomberg BNA reporter Cheryl Bolen: > > “Would the commander in chief really veto the Defense Appropriations bill if the non-defense bills, if the caps aren’t lifted on those?” > > EARNEST: > > “Yes. > > And the reason for that is a serious one. There are actually several reasons. One is that the funding mechanism that Republicans have floated is one that many leading Republicans have previously described as nothing more than a gimmick. The president does not believe that is consistent with any sort of serious approach to national security and that is a — the principal objection of the way that Republicans are currently trying to move this legislation through Congress. > > What also happens to be true is there are critically important national security priorities included on the so-called non-defense side of the ledger. This includes everything from funding for Homeland Security to funding for our veterans. > > So to suggest that essentially gutting funding on the non-defense side doesn’t have significant consequences for our national security is dangerously naive. So the fact is, the president is going to — is determined to ensure that the budgets that are eventually signed into law by the president of the United States are budgets that reflect our priorities to keep the country safe and to put in place policies that are in the best interests of expanding economic opportunity for middle class families.” > > · On Tuesday, the full House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2016 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill <http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394275>, on a vote of 30-21. That bill is likely to go to the House floor next week. > > · Today, the House Appropriations Committee reported out an amended $20.2 billion fiscal 2016 Financial Services appropriations bill <http://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=394261> on a 30-20 party line vote. > > · Tomorrow, June 18, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies will markup the FY 16 Agriculture Appropriations <http://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=394269> bill. The bill containstwo riders on school lunch/child nutrition: > > SEC. 732. For the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act through school year 2016–2017, with respect to the school lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or the school breakfast program established under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) and final regulations published by the Department of Agriculture in the Federal Register on January 26, 2012 (77 Fed. Reg. 4088 et seq.), the Secretary shall allow States to grant an exemption from the whole grain requirements that took effect on or after July 1, 2014, and the States shall establish a process for evaluating and responding, in a reasonable amount of time, to requests for an exemption: Provided, That school food authorities demonstrate hardship, including financial hardship, in procuring specific whole grain products which are acceptable to the students and compliant with the whole grain-rich requirements: Provided further, That school food authorities shall comply with the applicable grain component or standard with respect to the school lunch or school breakfast program that was in effect prior to July 1, 2014. > > SEC. 733. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act shall be used to pay the salaries and expenses of personnel to implement any regulations under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.), the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–296), or any other law that would require a reduction in the quantity of sodium contained in federally reimbursed meals, foods, and snacks sold in schools below Target 1 (as described in section 220.8(f)(3) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)) until the latest scientific research establishes the reduction is beneficial for children. > > · Yesterday, a Senate Subcommittee Approved the FY2016 Interior, Environment Appropriations Bill <http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/senate-subcommittee-approves-fy2016-interior-environment-appropriations-bill>. Also see the Democratic summary: FY16 Interior & Environment Subcommittee Markup Bill Summary <http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/democratic-page> > > · Also yesterday, the Senate Subcommittee on Homeland Security Appropriations approved itsFY2016 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill <http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/fy2016-homeland-security-appropriations-bill-gains-subcommittee-approval>. Also see the Democratic summary: FY16 DHS Subcommittee Markup Bill Summary <http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/fy16-dhs-subcommittee-markup-bill-summary> > > · The full Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow will markup those two bills. > > 4. Updated Education Budget History Table: The Department of Education just issued Education Department Budget History Table: FY 1980—FY 2016 President's Budget <http://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/history/index.html>. It shows President's budget requests and enacted appropriations for major Education Department programs. This table breaks out Department budget totals by discretionary and mandatory spending. > > 5. ESEA: It is possible that ESEA might get to the Senate floor as early as the end of this week. The Senate may finish the Defense authorization bill as early as tomorrow. It will then immediately vote on a Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to consideration of the FY 2016 defense appropriations bill. That motion is expected to fail. The two choices for the next bill are either ESEA or another round of action on the trade bills. > > 6. HEA: The HELP Committee today held this hearing: Reauthorizing the Higher Education Act: Evaluating Accreditation’s Role in Ensuring Quality <http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/reauthorizing-the-higher-education-act-evaluating-accreditations-role-in-ensuring-quality>. From that link you can watch an archived webcast and read the witnesses testimony. Also see: Alexander: Accreditation Must Improve, Because Neither Congress nor Department of Education Are Up to the Task of Monitoring Quality. > <http://www.help.senate.gov/chair/newsroom/press/alexander-accreditation-must-improve-because-neither-congress-nor-department-of-education-are-up-to-the-task-of-monitoring-quality-> > 7. Pell Report: The Department just released the 2013-2014 Federal Pell Grant Program End-of-Year Report <http://www2.ed.gov/finaid/prof/resources/data/pell-2013-14/pell-eoy-2013-14.html>. It contains 23 excel tables with data on various aspects of the Pell program. > > 8. Child Nutrition: The Education and the Workforce Committee yesterday held this hearing: "Child Nutrition Assistance: Are Federal Rules and Regulations Serving the Best Interests of Schools and Families <http://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=399016>?” Also see Chairman Kline’s opening statement <http://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399041> (“As we work to reauthorize federal child nutrition programs, we must find solutions that will ensure taxpayer dollars are well spent and children are well served. We know developing a one-size-fits-all approach is not the answer. More mandates and more money aren’t the answer either. Instead, we should look to improve these programs by giving states and school districts the flexibility they need to fulfill the promise of child nutrition assistance.”) and Democrats Fight to Safeguard Healthy Meal Standards for Nation’s Children <http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/press-release/democrats-fight-safeguard-healthy-meal-standards-nation%E2%80%99s-children>. > > The Committee will hold another hearing on child nutrition next week on June 24: "Child Nutrition Assistance: Looking at the Cost of Compliance for States and Schools <http://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=399091>" > > > > > > > Joel Packer > CEF Executive Director > JPacker@cef.org <mailto:JPacker@cef.org> > 202-383-0083 > 202-255-0915 (cell) > www.cef.org <http://www.cef.org/> > www.Twitter.com/edfunding <http://www.twitter.com/edfunding>