ii.    Markup: The Committee is expected to markup its bill on February 11 and take it to the floor the week of February 24. 

                                    iii.    Democratic Hearing: Ranking Member Bobby Scott and Committee Democrats are upset that Kline is moving to markup the bill without any hearings, so they are holding one of their own tomorrow: Ed and Workforce Committee Dems to Hold Forum on ESEA Reauthorization <http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/press-release/media-advisory-ed-and-workforce-committee-dems-hold-forum-esea-reauthorization> (10:30 in room 2203 Rayburn)

Sorry to be tardy in sending this out. A couple of things to bring to your attention: Note in #4 that the President’s budget doesn’t propose eliminating the sequester for several mandatory education programs, which would get cut significantly. One to call to your attention is voc-rehab. I recommend the report, "Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States,” noted in #7. Jeff > Begin forwarded message: > > From: Joel Packer <jpacker@cef.org <mailto:jpacker@cef.org>> > To: Joel Packer <jpacker@cef.org <mailto:jpacker@cef.org>> > Subject: Wednesday Update > Date: February 4, 2015 at 6:26:39 PM EST > > > > 1. No CEF Meeting this Friday! > > 2. CEF Budget Analyses: We’ve posted on the CEF website our two recent charts on the FY 16 budget. These and other resources can be found on our Budget resources page <http://cef.org/presidents-fy-2016-budget-resources-and-more-feb-2/>. > · FY 2016 funding table <http://cef.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/FY-2016-Education-funding-table1.pdf> (Updated to show the Impact Aid line items) > · Budget history charts <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B19p6j32JwToZnk5RUNFSjdmd1k/view?usp=sharing> > > We also issued a press statement on the budget from NDD United:   <http://www.publichealthfunding.org/uploads/NDDUnited_POTUSBudget_Feb2015.docx>NDD United Press Release "President’s Budget Provides Much Needed Room for Growth" <http://www.publichealthfunding.org/uploads/NDDUnited_POTUSBudget_Feb2015.docx>. It was sent to all House and Senate offices. > > 3. FY 16 Budget Hearings: > a. The Senate Budget Committee yesterday held a hearing The President's Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Proposal <http://www.budget.senate.gov/republican/public/index.cfm/hearing-schedule?ID=e8bab703-bf00-49a2-80a5-456ebcc9b54b> with OMB Director Shaun Donovan. > See: Chairman Enzi: Confront spending, make tough decisions <http://www.budget.senate.gov/republican/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=b51c50a0-beb6-4885-8ba8-6a241cdac2d5>. Enzi was extremely critical of the proposed budget: > “Every year since he took office, the President has proposed the same approach to the fiscal challenge facing our government: > > He wants to spend—more. > > He wants to tax—more. > > He wants to regulate—more. > > He wants to borrow—more. > > He wants us to owe—more, and more, and more.” > > Also see: Sanders Says We Can Create Jobs By Making Profitable Corporations Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes <http://www.budget.senate.gov/democratic/public/index.cfm/press-releases-news?ID=251d8d1f-7eba-420b-8f2a-15e3eca3515c> > > b. The House Budget Committee today heled its hearing <http://budget.house.gov/hearingschedule2015/the-president-s-fiscal-year-2016-budget.htm> on the President’s Budget. See: Chairman Price's Opening Statement <http://budget.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393918> (“A lot of what we have here in the president’s budget is just more of the same policies that have been tried over the past few years and have led us to our current state of high, and soon to be rising again, deficits and an underperforming economy.”) > > Also see: Van Hollen Opening Statement at Hearing on the President’s FY2016 Budget <http://democrats.budget.house.gov/press-release/van-hollen-opening-statement-hearing-president%E2%80%99s-fy2016-budget>(“The President’s budget accomplishes these ambitious goals while putting us on a path to fiscal sustainability through smart, responsible deficit reduction. The budget reduces ten-year deficits by about $2 trillion through targeted spending cuts and elimination of many special-interest tax breaks and loopholes. The budget stabilizes the debt as a share of the economy and puts it on a downward path.”) > > The House Budget Committee Democrats also issued a good Report: The President’s 2016 Budget <http://democrats.budget.house.gov/committee-report/report-president%E2%80%99s-2016-budget>. > > 4. FY 16 Sequester; While the President’s budget proposes to eliminate the FY 2016 sequester cuts for NDD and partially for Defense, it keeps in place the sequester cuts to mandatory programs. While most mandatory programs (such as Social Security, SNAP and Medicaid) are exempt from the sequester cuts, several are affected. On Monday, OMB issued its Report to Congress on the Joint Committee Reductions for Fiscal Year 2016 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/legislative_reports/sequestration/2016_jc_sequestration_report_speaker.pdf>. OMB calculates that non-exempt mandatory programs will be cut in FY 16 by 6.8%. In the Department of Education, this results in cuts which will occur on October 1 to the following: > · Vocational rehabilitation = -$231 million > · Higher Education (this is HEA Title III and V aid to HBCUs and MSIs) = -$17 million > · TEACH Grants = -$1 million > · Student Financial Assistance Debt Collection = -$1 million. > > In addition, loan origination fees will increase by 6.8%. So fees for new Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans will increase from 1.0% to 1.068% and for Direct PLUS Loans will increase from 4.0% to 4.272%. This raise $75 million from students. > > 5. ESEA: > a. House: > i. Yesterday, Chairman Kline and Chairman Rokita introduced the 2055 version of the Student Success Act (it’s still HR 5!) See: Kline, Rokita Introduce Bill to Replace No Child Left Behind <http://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398297>. To learn more about the Student Success Act, click here <http://edworkforce.house.gov/studentsuccessact/>. Also see: House GOP Introduces Bill to Rewrite NCLB; Would Keep Tests in Place <http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2015/02/kline_introduces_bill_to_rewri.html> > > CEF just prepared two charts showing the programs authorized in the bill and a comparison of authorizations and current appropriations. The bottom line is that the bill freezes in the aggregate the ESEA authorized level at the aggregate FY 15 appropriations level for the next six years. That’s actually a bit better than the Alexander bill which cuts spending by $120 million over six years. See: > · Programs Authorized in the Student Success Act (HR 5) <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B19p6j32JwToUXJtdFNwNFFyalk/view?usp=sharing> > · HR 5 authorizations Versus Appropriations <https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B19p6j32JwToQ0lNaVlzejNDeWc/view?usp=sharing> > > ii. Markup: The Committee is expected to markup its bill on February 11 and take it to the floor the week of February 24. > > iii. Democratic Hearing: Ranking Member Bobby Scott and Committee Democrats are upset that Kline is moving to markup the bill without any hearings, so they are holding one of their own tomorrow: Ed and Workforce Committee Dems to Hold Forum on ESEA Reauthorization <http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/press-release/media-advisory-ed-and-workforce-committee-dems-hold-forum-esea-reauthorization> (10:30 in room 2203 Rayburn) > > b. Senate: The HELP Committee yesterday held its Innovation to Better Meet the Needs of Students (Roundtable) <http://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=b7082021-5056-a032-5289-1341f4ce3f01>. From that link you can watch an archived webcast of the hearing and read the witnesses’ statements. Also see: Alexander: Federal Dollars Should Enable and Encourage—Not Mandate—State, Local K-12 Innovation <http://www.help.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=fb07d052-6b0b-4cee-b761-be7597df847f&groups=Chair> and Murray at NCLB Roundtable: Supporting Innovation in Education is a National Priority <http://www.help.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=ed8b7b71-8411-419c-bfb0-e88a8d5c4193&groups=Ranking>. > > c. CEF also did a chart on funding levels for the ESEA block grant <http://cef.org/esea-chapter-2title-vititle-v-cef-chart/> going back to 1980! It shows that over time funding for large block grants erodes, and in the case of the ESEA block grant funding went to zero., > > d. Title I Portability: CAP just issued a great report on Title I portability, which is included in both the Alexander and Kline bills: ESEA Reauthorization: Robin Hood in Reverse: How ESEA Title I, Part A, ‘Portability’ Takes from the Poor and Gives to the Rest <https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/education/report/2015/02/04/105896/robin-hood-in-reverse/> > > 6. Meet & Greet with Education Advocates and Democratic Chiefs, LDs, and Las: Tomorrow! Reminder from Rep. Hoyer’s office: > > We would like to invite you to a Meet & Greet hosted by the Democratic Whip’s Office for House Democratic staffers and education groups on Thursday, February 5 at 3:30PM-4:30PM. We hope that you can attend. It is intended to be an informal opportunity to put names to faces and reconnect with old friends, as well as meet staff in the freshman offices. > > What: Meet & Greet with Education Advocates and Democratic Chiefs, LDs, and LAs > When: Thursday, 2/5, 3:30PM-4:30PM > Where: House Administration Committee Hearing Room, 1310 Longworth House Office Building > Refreshments will be provided. > > These have been very successful events in the past. We look forward to your participation and another successful event. Please feel free to share with others in your organization as appropriate. > > Please RSVP to Courtney.Fry@mail.house.gov <mailto:Courtney.Fry@mail.house.gov> and let me know if you have any questions. Thanks and hope to see you there! > > 7. Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States: Yesterday, the Pell Institute issued Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the United States <http://pellinstitute.org/downloads/publications-Indicators_of_Higher_Education_Equity_in_the_US_45_Year_Trend_Report.pdf> > “Rising cost and lower government aid have made it even more difficult for poor students to obtain a college degree today than 45 years ago. The Indicators of Higher Education Equity in the U.S. — 45 Year Trend Report, draws on U.S. Census statistics and educational data to make the compelling and disturbing case that inequality in obtaining a college education has substantially grown in the past 45 years.” > > 8. Please Sign To Extend CHIP: CEF member First Focus asked me to share this: > > First Focus is again reaching out to key partners and asking your organizations to sign onto a new letter urging congressional leaders to take action as soon as possible to provide four years of renewed funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Last fall, we sent a similar letter to Hill leaders <http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ZuC4TfY4i5qqaS5P09eSQwokGAKjOrPa> in support of a CHIP funding extension that was signed by an outstanding list of 1,200 state, local and national organizations, with representation from every state in the nation. We are seeking your support again because Congress failed to act on CHIP last year. We are hoping to get sign-ons from all of the 1,200 previous letter-signers and to reach even more organizations to demonstrate CHIP’s broad base of support and our growing concern about CHIP’s uncertain future. > > As you know, CHIP is a key source of coverage for more than 8 million children and hundreds of thousands of pregnant women. CHIP funding is currently set to expire on September 30, 2015 but states are now developing their FY 2016 budgets and need to know that CHIP will not run out of funding after September. If Congress fails to act, millions of children who rely on CHIP will face coverage disruptions; many will lose coverage altogether. At a time when our nation has made so much progress in covering kids, this would be an enormous step backwards. Let’s make sure Congress knows that swift action on CHIP must be a top priority! > > We encourage all interested stakeholders — whether your organization is a local, state or national organization — to sign-on! We would also be grateful for your help in distributing this letter to your networks across your state and across the nation. > > Click here <http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=DzYtPuyFogKun6d6GuEOGAokGAKjOrPa> to review the CHIP letter. > > TO SIGN ON: Click here <http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=IeCIp0EvxqaiE3SEhAw4ogokGAKjOrPa> to renew or add your organization’s name, location and state to the letter. > > The deadline for signing the letter is Wednesday, February 11th. Please note, we will send the final letter once it has been sent to congressional leaders > > > > > > > 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>