Hi everyone, An update below taken from Committee for Education Funding (CEF): 1. Government funding extended one week - Last week Congress passed a second FY2021 continuing resolution that extends government funding until this Friday, Dec. 18. That provides more time for Congress to iron out remaining differences on full-year funding for all 12 government funding bills and possibly for a COVID relief package that would be attached to an omnibus package of the appropriations bills. Finalizing the FY2021 appropriations bills and enacting a COVID relief package that will contain new funding (including for education) and extending federal relief provided by the CARES Act are the two remaining large items for the 116th congress. 2. Negotiations on a COVID-relief package - A bipartisan group of Senators working on a $908 billion relief package said this weekend that it hopes to release language today with the bill split into two parts. The first part would have $748 billion for "non-controversial" items, including education funding, which was reported to be $82 billion. The other part of the bill is what Democrats and Republicans cannot agree on. It would have $160 billion for state and local relief, which Democrats have insisted on since the House-passed Heroes Act (about 40% of state funding is used for education). Senator McConnell also insists on the bill including a temporary liability shield for employers against pandemic-related lawsuits. 3. Round table discussions with Senators Murray and Shelby - Earlier in the fall, CEF sent letters asking Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Patty Murray (D-WA) for a virtual roundtable discussion with in-state education stakeholders, with the letters signed by locally based representatives of CEF members. With the two main priorities in congress being FY2021 appropriations and a COVID relief bill, the roundtable discussions have been postponed until January when congress then will soon focus on FY2022 appropriations and new COVID relief packages. CEF noted that early next year will be an ideal time to make a big push about the long-standing education needs that have been underfunded for years, and to ask Congress to provide enough for non-defense funding so that important priorities like education can get the support they need. Best, Michele MICHELE DIECUCH | Senior Director of Programs Pronouns: She, Her, Hers ________________________________ ProLiteracy<http://www.proliteracy.org/> | 101 Wyoming St. | Syracuse, NY 13204 p 315.214.2576 | f 315.422.6369 | mdiecuch@proliteracy.org<mailto:mdiecuch@proliteracy.org> Find us and follow us on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/pages/ProLiteracy/59618669707> and Twitter<http://twitter.com/#!/ProLitWorld>. Help ProLiteracy advance the cause of adult literacy.<http://www.proliteracy.org/give> [2020-11-PL-EmailSignatures-Advocacy-1042 (003)]<https://www.proliteracy.org/What-We-Do/Advocacy>