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The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (S. 3307) will dramatically improve children?s access to nutritious meals, enhance the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, implement new school food safety guidelines and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. This legislation will answer President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's call to reduce childhood hunger and support school and community efforts to reduce childhood obesity.
The legislation:
Improves Access
- Increases the number of children enrolled in the school meals programs by using Medicaid data to directly certify eligible children. This provision will connect approximately new 115,000 students to the school meals program.
- Enhances universal meal access for eligible children in high poverty communities by using census data to determine school wide income eligibility.
- Provides more meals for at-risk children nationwide by allowing Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) providers to be reimbursed for meals provided to low-income children after school. This provision will provide an additional 21 million meals annually.
- Provides funding for innovative state and local projects to address childhood hunger and promote food security for low-income children.
Increases Focus on Nutrition Quality and Children's Health
- Improves the nutritional quality of school meals by increasing the federal reimbursement rate for school lunches for districts who comply with federal nutrition standards. This additional 6 cents per meal will be the first real reimbursement rate increase in over 30 years.
- Removes junk food from schools by applying nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools.
- Promotes nutrition and wellness in child care settings by establishing nutrition requirements for CACFP.
- Connects more children to healthy produce from local farms by helping communities establish farm to school networks, create school gardens and use more local foods in cafeterias with $40 million in mandatory funding.
- Strengthens local school wellness policies by updating existing requirements, increasing transparency, providing opportunities for community involvement, and compliance measurements.
- Supports breastfeeding for low-income women by supporting data collection in WIC and permanently authorizing performance bonuses for exemplary breastfeeding practices at WIC clinics and agencies.
Improves Program Management & Program Integrity
- Supports schools' food service budgets by ensuring charges to school foodservice accounts are only for allowable expenses.
- Supports a skilled workforce by establishing professional standards and training opportunities for school food service providers.
- Streamlines program administration by giving CACFP providers greater flexibility with their administrative funds and eliminating duplicative paperwork requirements and wasteful monitoring practices.
- Increases efficiency and modernizes the WIC program by transitioning to an electronic benefit program.
- Improves food safety requirements for school meals by improving recall procedures and extending existing HACCP requirements to all places where school meals are prepared or served.
Fully Paid For -- At No Cost to Taxpayers
- Saves $1 billion over 10 years by extending a provision that allows the Secretary of Agriculture to count commodities purchased for market stabilization toward the required level of federal support (in the form of commodity foods) for the National School Lunch Program.
- Saves approximately $1.3 billion over 10 years by restructuring nutrition education in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) into a new grant program that distributes Federal funds by formula to the States.
- Saves approximately $2.2 billion over 10 years by eliminating a temporary SNAP benefit increase provided by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
National
- Abbott
- Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
- Action for Healthy Kids
- Advocates for Better Children's Diets
- African Methodist Episcopal Church
- AFSCME
- AIB International
- Alliance to End Hunger
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Association for Health Education
- American Bakers Association
- American Beverage Association
- American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
- American Clinical Board of Nutrition
- American Commodity Distribution Association
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- American Council for School Social Work
- American Dental Association
- American Diabetes Association
- American Dietetic Association
- American Federation of Teachers
- American Feed Industry Association
- American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers Coalition
- American Heart Association
- American Medical Student Association
- American Mushroom Institute
- American Public Health Association
- American Pulse Association
- American School Health Association
- American Society of Bariatric Physicians
- Apple Processors Association
- Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
- Associated Food Stores, Inc.
- Association of State & Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors
- Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health
- Baby-Friendly USA, Inc.
- Barilla America
- Board on Human Sciences, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
- Bread for the World
- C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc.
- Camp Fire USA
- Campaign for Better Nutrition
- Campaign to End Obesity Action Fund
- Catholic Charities USA
- Catholic Healthcare West
- Center for Oral Health
- Center for Science in Public Interest
- Child and Family Policy Center
- Child Nutrition Initiative
- Christian Church Disciples of Christ
- Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
- Church of the Brethren
- Church World Service
- CMA Consulting Services, Inc.
- Colorpoint - Low Temp Industries, Inc.
- Communications Workers of America
- Community Action Partnership
- Community Food Security Coalition
- ConAgra Foods, Inc.
- Defeat Diabetes Foundation
- Diocese of the Armenian Church in America
- Domino's Pizza
- E S Foods
- Earth Day Network
- Ecotrust
- End Hunger Network
- European Congress PTA
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
- Family Farm Defenders
- Feeding America
- FGE Food & Nutrition Team
- First Focus Campaign for Children
- Florida Dietetic Association
- Food and Water Watch
- Food Chain Workers Alliance
- Food Lion, LLC
- Food Marketing Institute
- FWE/Food Warming Equipment
- Generations United
- Grain Foods Foundation
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
- Grocery Manufacturers Association
- Hannaford Supermarkets
- Healthy Food Coalition
- Healthy Schools Campaign
- Healthy Schools Network
- Healthy Solutions
- Heartland Flavors, Ltd.
- Heifer International
- Independent Bakers Association
- Institute of Shortening and Edible Oils
- International Bottled Water Association
- International Center for Traditional Childbearing
- International Council of Community Churches
- International Dairy Foods Association
- International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), AFL-CIO
- International Formula Council
- International Ice Cream Association
- J.T.M. Food Group
- Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- Jewish Federations of North America
- Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
- Johnson & Johnson
- Jones Valley Urban Farm
- Juice Products Association
- LaLeche League
- Lamaze International
- Land O'Lakes, Inc.
- Leadership Conference of Women Religious
- League of United Latin American Citizens
- Learning Disabilities Association of America
- Mars, Inc.
- Mead Johnson Nutrition
- Medela, Inc.
- MEND Foundation
- Metropolitan Community Churches
- Milk Industry Foundation
- Milkin' Mamas Breast Milk Donations
- Moravian Church in America
- National Action Against Obesity
- National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
- National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy
- National Assembly on School-Based Health Care
- National Association for Sport and Physical Education
- National Association of Chronic Disease Directors
- National Association of County & City Health Officials
- National Association of Local Boards of Health
- National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- National Association of School Nurses
- National Association of State Boards of Education
- National Black Church Initiative
- National Cheese Institute
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women
- National Congress of Black Women, Inc.
- National Consumers League
- National Corn Growers Association
- National Council for Community and Education Partnerships
- National Council of Churches, USA
- National Council of Jewish Women
- National Directors of Health Promotion and Education
- National Education Association
- National Farmers Union
- National Indian Health Board
- National Latina Health Network
- National Latino Children's Institute
- National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
- National Meat Association
- National Milk Producers Federation
- National Native Council on Breastfeeding
- National Network of Public Health Institutes
- National Organization of Social Workers
- National Physicians Alliance
- National PTA
- National Research Center for Women & Families
- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
- National Watermelon Association
- National WIC Association
- National Women's Health Network
- Nemours
- Nestlé USA
- NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
- Obesity Action Coalition
- Oral Health America
- Organic Trade Association
- Partnership for Prevention
- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness
- Prevention Institute
- Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
- Produce for Better Health Foundation
- Produce Marketing Association
- Progressive National Baptist Convention
- Public Health Institute
- Reformed Church in America
- Revolution Foods
- Salvation Army National Headquarters
- Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
- Save the Children
- School Nutrition Association
- School Social Work Association of America
- Service Employees International Union
- Shape Up America
- Share Our Strength
- Slow Food USA
- Society for Nutrition Education
- Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education and Recreation
- Sodexo
- Sojourners
- Southern Peanut Farmers Association
- Soyfoods Association of North America
- Spoons Across America
- Sunkist Growers
- The Coca-Cola Company
- The Episcopal Church
- The Kroger Company
- The Praxis Project
- The Rabbinical Assembly
- Trust for America's Health
- Tyson Foods
- U.S. Apple Association
- U.S. Dry Bean Council
- U.S. Water Fitness Association
- UAW, International Union
- Union for Reform Judaism
- United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
- United Egg Producers
- United Egg Association
- United Fresh Produce Association
- United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, CLC
- United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society
- United States Breastfeeding Committee
- Upstream Public Health
- Veritable Vegetable
- Voices for America's Children
- Walmart
- Waste Free World
- Western Growers Association
- Western Organization of Resource Councils
- Wheat Foods Council
- Women of Reform Judaism
- Youth Leadership Institute
- Alabama PTA
- Alabama School Nutrition Association
- Alabama WIC Program
- Bay Area Food Bank
- Food Bank of North Alabama
- Health Action Partnership
- Jefferson County Department of Health
- Jefferson County WIC Program
- Jones Valley Urban Farm
- Morris Health Center
- St. Clair County WIC Program
- Trussville WIC Program
- Alaska Dietetic Association
- Alaska PTA
- Alaska School Nurses Association
- Alaska School Nutrition Association
- Food Bank of Alaska
- Maniilaq WIC Program
- Arizona Dietetic Association
- Grand Canyon Synod - ELCA
- Hualapai WIC Department
- Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
- Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona
- Navajo Nation WIC Program
- Planned Parenthood Arizona
- School Nurses Organization of Arizona
- School Nutrition Association of Arizona
- United Food Bank
- White Mountain Apache WIC Program
- 5 A Day Coalition
- Arkansas Action For Healthy Kids
- Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families
- Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association, Inc.
- Arkansas Food Policy Council
- Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
- Arkansas PTA
- Arkansas School Nurses Association
- Bull Shoals Food Pantry
- Carroll County Community Foundation
- Choctaw Food Bank
- Community Services Office, Inc.
- Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County, Inc.
- Franklin County Learning Center
- Helping Hands of Winchester
- Hope in Action
- Hughes Christian Outreach Ministries
- Kids for Health
- Mountain Home Food Basket
- No Kid Hungry Arkansas
- Oak Forest United Methodist Church
- Ozark Opportunities, Inc.
- Seven Harvest, Inc.
- Sustainable Alternatives
- The Manna House
- Wildflowers Christian Ministry
- A Family Helping Agency Inc.
- A World Fit For Kids!
- Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association
- Alameda County WIC Program
- Alameda Point Collaborative
- Alliance Medical Center WIC Program
- Antelope Valley Hospital WIC Program
- Apricot Producers of California
- Baby Sips
- Bay Area Lactation Associates (BALA)
- Bay Area WIC Association
- Breastfeeding Coalition of Solano County
- Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles
- Breastfeeding Task Force of Santa Clara Valley
- California Association of Nutrition and Activity Programs (CAN-Act)
- California Center for Public Health Advocacy
- California Conference of Local Health Department Nutritionists (CCLHDN)
- California Department of Education
- California Dietetic Association
- California District Council Health Professional Auxiliary
- California Grape & Tree Fruit League
- California Public Health Association-North
- California School Health Centers Association
- California State PTA
- California State University, Fresno
- California WIC Association
- CANFIT
- Center for Health Leadership
- Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion
- Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program
- Central Valley Indian Health WIC Program
- Chico Eat Learn Grow
- City of Long Beach WIC Program
- Collaboratively Creating Health Access, Opportunities, & Services (cChaos)
- Community Action Partnership of Kern WIC Program
- Community Alliance with Family Farmers
- Community Bridges WIC Program
- Community Medical Center WIC Program
- Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
- County of Napa WIC Program
- County of Sonoma DHS WIC Program
- Cover My Heart
- CWA
- Delta Health Care
- East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital
- E-Center
- Family YMCA of the Desert
- Farm to Table Food Services
- Feeding America San Diego
- First 5 Los Angeles
- First 5 Santa Clara County
- First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission
- Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
- Food for People, Inc.
- FOOD Share
- FoodLink for Tulare County, Inc.
- Fresh Produce & Floral Council
- Fresno County WIC Program
- Fresno Metro Ministry
- Gardner Family Care Corporation WIC Program
- Glenn County Health Services
- Greater Los Angeles Breastfeeding Task Force
- Grower-Shipper Association of Central California
- Help Choose Your Life
- HER Consulting
- Hill Country Health and Wellness Center
- Humanist Association of Orange County
- Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley WIC Program
- Inland Congregations United for Change
- Inland Empire Veterans Stand Down
- Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
- Kalusugan Community Services
- Kernville Union School District
- Kings County Breastfeeding Coalition
- Kings County Health Department WIC Program
- La Leche League of Ukiah
- La Luna Perinatal Services
- Lactation Advocates of Northern California
- Lake County Community Action Agency
- LEAPS Action Center
- Long Beach Grows
- Los Angeles Best Babies Network
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
- Los Angeles County Office of Education
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- Lotus Tribe
- Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
- Marin County WIC Program
- Maternal and Child Health Access
- Mendocino County Breastfeeding Coalition
- Mendocino County WIC Program
- Mono County WIC Program
- Monterey County WIC Program
- Native American Health Center
- Native Breastfeeding Council
- Network for a Healthy California-ABC USD
- Newport Mesa Unified School District - Network for a Healthy California
- North Coast Opportunities, Community Action
- North County Health Services WIC Program
- Northeast Valley Health Corporation
- Northeastern Rural Health WIC Program
- Oakland Based Urban Gardens
- Oakland Leaf
- Oakland Unified School District
- Orange County Planned Parenthood WIC Program
- Outrider Ministries
- Palomar Pomerado Home Health
- Pasture Pictures
- People's Grocery
- Placer Food Bank
- Planting Justice
- Plumas Rural Services WIC Program
- Private Lactation Consulting, Contra Costa
- Psi Chi, San Jose State University
- Public Health Foundation WIC Program
- Riverside County Community Health Agency Lactation Services
- Sacramento ACHIEVE
- San Benito Health Foundation
- San Diego American Red Cross WIC Program
- San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
- San Diego State University Research Foundation WIC
- San Francisco Breastfeeding promotion Coalition
- San Francisco Department of Public Health
- San Francisco WIC Program
- San Mateo County WIC Program
- San Ysidro Health Center WIC Program Imperial Beach Office
- Santa Clara County Public Health Department WIC Program
- Santa Clara County WIC Program
- Santa Clara County WIC Program
- Save Mart Supermarkets
- Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County
- Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency
- Siskiyou County Public Health
- Siskiyou County WIC Program
- Slow Food Urban San Diego
- Solano County WIC Program
- South Los Angeles Health Projects
- Southern California Public Health Association (SCPHA)
- St. Joseph Health System
- Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA)
- Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
- The Childbirth Connection, LLC
- The Peace and Justice Community of St. Cross Episcopal Church, Hermosa Beach
- The Resource Connection - Amador
- The Sisters of the Holy Family, Fremont
- Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc. WIC Program
- Tulare County WIC Program
- Ubuntu Green
- UCLA High Risk Infant Follow-up Program
- United Way Silicon Valley
- Urban and Environmental Policy Institute
- Valley Presbyterian Hospital
- Ventura County Public Health WIC Program
- WalkSanDiego
- Watts Healthcare Corporation WIC Program
- Well-Being Center of Novato
- Yolo County Health Department
- Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado
- Colorado Children's Campaign
- Colorado PTA
- Colorado School Nutrition Association
- Food Bank for Larimer County
- LiveWell Colorado
- Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - Colorado
- Mesa County WIC Agency
- Moms for Kids
- Pueblo City-County Health Department
- Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
- Summit Prevention Alliance
- Weld Food Bank
- Women of Reform Judaism – Colorado
- Connecticut Association for Human Services
- Connecticut Dietetic Association
- Connecticut Food Association
- Connecticut Food Bank
- Connecticut Parent Teacher Student Association
- Fairfield County WIC Program
- Foodshare, Inc.
- Justice and Peace Committee of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery/West Hartford
- The Collaborative Center for Justice, Hartford
- Uncas Health District
- Delaware Dietetic Association
- Delaware PTA
- Delaware School Nurse Association
- Delaware School Nutrition Association
- D.C. Farm to School Network
- D.C. WIC State Agency
- United Way National Capital Area
- All Faiths Food Bank
- Bay Area Food Bank
- Better School Food Sarasota
- Charity Express Inc.
- Christ Fellowship Church
- City of North Miami ACHIEVE
- CROS Ministries
- Damayan Garden Project
- Evangelical Christian Bible Ministries International, Inc.
- Feeding South Florida
- First Baptist Church of Lantana
- Florida Association of Food Banks
- Florida Association of School Nurses
- Florida Dietetic Association
- Florida PTA
- Florida Public Health Foundation
- Florida Tomato Exchange
- Harry Chapin Food Bank
- Miami Dietetic Association
- OSAY Child Development Center
- Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance
- Palm Beach Harvest Inc.
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
- Second Harvest North Florida
- The Peace & Justice Committee of the Florida Benedictine Sisters
- Treasure Coast Food Bank
- America Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia
- Cobb & Douglas Public Health
- Cotillion of the South
- Feeding the Valley, Inc.
- Georgia Dietetic Association
- Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
- Georgia Organics
- Georgia PTA
- Georgia Public Health Association
- Georgia School Nutrition Association
- Health Matters
- Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta
- Lithonia WIC Program
- Piedmont Park Conservancy
- Queen of Hearts Foundation
- Second Harvest of South Georgia, Inc.
- Southside Medical Center WIC/Nutrition Department
- The Holistic Chamber of Commerce Atlanta
- The Youth Becoming Healthy Project, Inc.
- Voices for Georgia's Children
- Department of Public Health & Social Services, Bureau of Nutrition Services, WIC Program
- Bay Clinic Inc.
- Bay Clinic WIC Program
- Blueprint for Change
- Good Beginnings Alliance
- Hawaii Dietetic Association
- Hawaii Farmers Union
- Hawaii Island Rural Health Association
- Kau Rural Health Community Association Inc.
- Lanai Community Health Center
- Malama I Ke Ola Health Center WIC Program
- Rural Maui
- Wahiawa WIC Program
- Waimanalo Health Center
- Waimanalo Market
- Columbia High School
- Eastern Idaho Public Health District
- Idaho PTA
- Idaho Public Health Association
- Idaho Rural Council
- Idaho School Nutrition Association
- Monastery of St. Gertrude
- School Nurse Organization of Idaho
- The Idaho Foodbank
- Active Transportation Alliance
- AIDS Foundation of Chicago
- Center of Higher Development
- Central Illinois Foodbank
- Chicago Dietetic Association
- Chicago Run
- Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children
- Coordinated Youth
- DePaul University
- East Side Health District
- Eastern Illinois Dietetic Association
- Eastern Illinois Foodbank
- El Valor
- Feeding Illinois
- Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Hillsboro WIC/Maternal Child Health Program
- Illinois Association of School Nurses
- Illinois Dietetic Association
- Illinois Farm to School
- Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition
- Illinois PTA
- Illinois Retail Merchants Association
- Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Office of the Wheaton Franciscans
- King Lab School
- Lee County Health Department
- Lutheran Advocacy--Illinois
- Mississippi Valley Dietetic Association
- New Season Women's Transitional Housing Facility
- New Vision of Hope Foundation
- North Suburban Dietetic Association
- Northern Illinois Food Bank
- Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry
- Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative
- Peoria Area Food Bank
- Purple Asparagus
- River Bend Foodbank
- South Suburban Dietetic Association
- The Digital Strategy Group
- Voices for Illinois Children
- West Suburban Dietetic Association
- A.U.M.C. Shepherd's Pantry
- Catholic Charities Terre Haute
- Community Harvest Food Bank
- Devington Community Development Corporation
- Earth Charter Indiana
- East Central Indiana Dietetic Association
- Feeding Indiana's Hungry, Inc.
- Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
- Fort Wayne Community Schools
- Garrett Keyser Butler School Corporation
- Healthy Habits Institute
- Heartland Center
- Indiana Dietetic Association
- Indiana PTA
- Indiana Rural Health Association
- Indiana WIC
- Johnson County WIC Program
- Lafayette Urban Ministry
- Leadership Team, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters
- Memorial Hospital and Health System WIC Program
- Northern Indiana Dietetic Association
- Portage Township Schools
- Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center - Mishawaka
- Scott Memorial Hospital
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc.
- Southeast Indiana Dietetic Association
- St. Joseph County WIC Program
- St. Mary's Warrick WIC Program
- Whitley County WIC Program
- Food Bank of Iowa
- Iowa Dietetic Association
- Iowa Food Bank Association
- Iowa PTA
- Iowa Public Health Association
- Iowa State University
- Leadership Team, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Lutheran Services in Iowa
- Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc.
- Northeast Iowa Food Bank
- Webster County Health Department
- Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition
- Kansas Food Bank
- Kansas PTA
- Kansas Public Health Association
- Kaw Area Breastfeeding Coalition
- Lawrence Douglas County Health Department
- Lyon County WIC Program
- School Nutrition Association of Kansas
- Sisters of St. Joseph, CSJ Justice and Peace Center
- Social Justice Committee, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
- Unified Government Public Health Department WIC Program
- Campbell County WIC Program
- Community Coordinated Child Care, Inc.
- Dare to Care Food Bank
- Family & Children's Place
- Family Connections Resource Center
- Feeding America, Kentucky's Heartland
- For Kids Only Child Care
- God's Pantry Food Bank
- Kentucky Dietetic Association
- Kentucky Division For Early Childhood
- Kentucky PTA
- Kentucky River District Health Department
- Kentucky School Nurses Association
- Kentucky School Nutrition Association
- Kentucky Youth Advocates
- Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency
- Park DuValle Community Health Center WIC Program
- Pathways Family Resource/Youth Services Center
- St. Joseph Children's Home
- The Family Point, Family Resource & Youth Services Centers
- Health Centers in Schools
- Louisiana Food Bank Association
- Louisiana PTA
- Louisiana Public Health Institute
- New Orleans Food and Farm Network
- Riverside Elementary PTA
- School Nutrition Association of Louisiana
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
- The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana
- Woodlawn Leadership Academy
- Choose To Be Healthy Partnership
- Focus on Agriculture in Rural Maine Schools
- Good Shepherd Food Bank
- Maine Children's Alliance
- Maine Dietetic Association
- Maine PTA
- Maine Public Health Association
- Maine School Nutrition Association
- MSAD 6 School Garden Network
- Northern Maine Medical Center
- Nutrition Associates
- Nutrition Works, LLC
- Pam Stuppy Nutrition
- The Maine Dietetic Association
- Advocates for Children and Youth, Maryland
- Benedictine Sisters of Baltimore
- Co-Operative Housing at the University of Maryland
- Disciples Justice Action Network
- Maryland Association of School Health Nurses, Inc.
- Maryland Dietetic Association
- Maryland Foster Parent Association
- Maryland PTA
- Maryland WIC Program
- Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart
- The Capital Area Food Bank
- Week of Compassion, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- Boston Public Health Commission
- Cape Cod WIC Program
- Community Action! of the Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin Regions WIC Program
- Concord 146 LLC
- Curley K-8 School Jamaica Plain
- Department of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center
- Easthampton City Council
- Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
- Energize Everett
- Franklin County Community Meals Program
- Greater New Bedford WIC Program
- Health Imperatives, Inc.
- Judah Art Studio
- Marist Missionary Sisters
- Martha's Vineyard Regional High School
- Massachusetts Association of WIC Directors
- Massachusetts Citizens for Children
- Massachusetts Dietetic Association
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Nutrition & Food Services
- Massachusetts School Nurse Organization
- MGH-WCI
- Middlesex County WIC Program
- New England Farmers Union
- Partners Healthcare WIC Program
- Quincy WIC Program
- Rachel's Table
- School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts
- Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield
- Sisters of St. Joseph, Office of Justice and Peace
- South Boston WIC Program
- Suffolk County WIC Program
- Taunton Attleboro WIC Program Citizens for Citizens, Inc.
- The Brick House
- The Community Survival Center
- The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
- The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts
- WIC Massachusetts
- Worcester Central District Medical Society Alliance
- Worcester County Food Bank
- Worcester Food and Active Living Policy Council
- Youth Harvest Alliance
- Active Faith Community Services
- Aid in Milan Inc.
- Arrowwood Hills Cooperative
- Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers
- B-H-K Community Action Agency
- Chelsea Community Hospital
- City of Big Rapids WIC Program
- City of Newaygo WIC Program
- District Health Department # 10 WIC Program
- Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank
- Food Bank Council of Michigan
- Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
- Food Bank of South Central Michigan
- Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan
- Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes
- Mecosta County Health Department District #10
- Michigan Association of School Nurses
- Michigan Dietetic Association
- Michigan Farmers Union
- Michigan Land Use Institute
- Michigan PTSA
- Michigan Public Health Association
- Monroe County WIC Program
- Muskegon County WIC Program
- Northside Association for Community Development
- Orchards Children's Services
- Social Work Institute for Community Development
- Terrace Inn
- The Justice Coordinating Committee of the Dominican Sisters-Grand Rapids
- The Leadership Council Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Monroe
- The Manna Food Project
- The Salvation Army
- The Vineyard Church of Milan
- Washtenaw County Public Health Department
- Western Upper Peninsula Food Bank
- Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Leadership Team
- Franciscan Sisters of St. Paul
- Growing Up Healthy
- Mille Lacs County Public Health
- Mille Lacs County WIC Program
- Minnesota Dietetic Association
- Minnesota Grocers Association
- North Side Healthy Eating Project
- Saint Louis Fraternity, Secular Franciscan Order
- Salvation Army, Southeast Michigan Adult Rehabilitation Center *
- School Nurse Organization of Minnesota
- Second Harvest Heartland
- Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
- Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank
- St. Benedict's Monastery
- University of Minnesota
- Mississippi Dietetic Association
- Mississippi Food Network
- Mississippi Parent Teacher Association
- Mississippi School Nutrition Association
- Monroe County School District Child Nutrition Office
- Northeast Lauderdale Middle School
- Northwest Public Health District 1
- The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi
- Adair County WIC Program
- Andrew County Health Department
- Audrain City-County Health Unit
- BJK People's Health Centers WIC Program
- Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center
- Carroll County Health Department
- Cass County Health Department WIC Program
- Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph
- Central Missouri Dietetic Association
- Christian County WIC Program
- Clay County Public Health Center
- Cole County Health Department
- Columbia/Boone County WIC
- Cooper County Public Health Center
- Crawford County Health Department
- Crawford County Nursing Service
- Crescent Clinic WIC Program
- Dallas County Health Department
- Daviess County Health Department
- Dent County Health Center
- Doorways Interfaith Housing
- Dunklin County Health Department
- Family Care Health Centers
- Franklin County Health Department
- Franklin County WIC Program
- Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition
- Harrison County Health Department
- Harvesters--The Community Food Network
- Johnson County Community Health Services
- Johnson County Community Health Services WIC Program
- Johnson County WIC Program
- Kansas City Healthy Kids
- Lewis County Health Department
- Lincoln County Health Department
- Linn County Health Department
- Maude's Market
- Miller County Health Center WIC Program
- Minnesota School Nutrition Association
- Missouri Association of Local Public Health Agencies
- Missouri Dietetic Association
- Missouri Retailers Association
- Missouri Rural Crisis Center
- Missouri WIC Association
- Moberly WIC Program
- Morgan County Health Center WIC Program
- New Madrid County Health Department
- Optimus: The Center for Health
- Osage County Health Department
- Ozark County Health Department
- Ozarks Food Harvest
- Pettis County Health Center
- Pettis County WIC Program
- Pulaski County WIC Program
- Reynolds County Health Center
- Schuyler County Health Department
- Scotland County Health Department
- Second Harvest Community Food Bank
- Shannon County WIC Program
- Sisters of St. Francis of Savannah
- Southeast Missouri Food Bank
- St. Francois County Health Center
- Stoddard County WIC Program
- The Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis
- Tri-County Health Department
- Truman Medical Centers WIC Program
- Union WIC Program
- University of Missouri, Kansas City
- Anaconda Deer-Lodge County Public Health Department
- Dawson County WIC Program
- Eat Right Montana
- Flathead Farm to School Program
- Montana Association of School Nurses
- Montana Dietetic Association
- Montana PTA
- Montana School Nutrition Association
- Northern Plains Resource Council
- Sustainable Living Systems
- Central District Health Department
- City of Fremont WIC Program
- Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska
- Creighton University Center for Service and Justice
- Douglas County Health Department
- Douglas County Health Department WIC Program
- Family Health Services, Inc. WIC Program
- Food Bank for the Heartland
- Fremont WIC Program
- Midtown WIC Program
- Nebraska PTA
- Nebraska School Nurses Association
- Northeast Nebraska Family Health Services
- People's Family Health Services WIC Program
- Sarpy County WIC Program
- Sisters of Mercy
- Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community, Justice Team
- Battle Mountain WIC Program
- Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
- Community Bible Chapel Food Shelf
- Douglas County WIC Program
- Food Bank of Northern Nevada
- Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada
- Las Vegas Urban League WIC Program
- Lyon County Human Services
- Mineral County Consolidated Agencies of Human Services (CAHS)
- Nevada Association of School Nurses
- Nevada Health Centers, Inc.
- Nevada Public Health Association
- Nevada WIC
- Partners for a Healthy Nevada
- Pershing County WIC Program
- Ron Wood Family Resource Center
- Ron Wood WIC Clinic
- Saint Mary's Mission Outreach
- Saint Mary's WIC Program
- Southern Nevada Dietetic Association
- St. Rose Dominican Hospitals
- St. Rose WIC Program
- Sunrise Children's Foundation WIC Program
- Three Square
- Winnemucca WIC Program
- Children's Alliance of New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Farm to School Program
- New Hampshire Food Bank
- New Hampshire Grocers Association
- New Hampshire PTA
- New Hampshire School Nurses Association
- New Hampshire WIC Directors' Association
- FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
- Mercer County Special Child Health Services
- Mercer Street Friends Food Bank
- New Jersey Dietetic Association
- New Jersey Farm to School Network
- New Jersey Food Council
- New Jersey School Nutrition Association
- New Jersey State School Nurses Association
- Plainfield WIC Program
- WIC Advisory Council - Trenton
- ACL WIC Program
- Cooking With Kids Inc.
- Kewa WIC Program
- Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico
- New Mexico Alliance for School Based Health Care
- New Mexico Parent Teacher Association
- New Mexico School Nutrition Association
- New Mexico Voices for Children
- Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico
- Zuni WIC Program
- Cicatelli Associates, Inc.
- Commission on Peace and Justice of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
- Dining In
- Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
- Genesee Dietetic Association
- Health Watch
- Healthy Monday Campaign
- Island Harvest
- John Boy's Farm
- Johnson City School District
- Long Island Cares, Inc.--The Harry Chapin Food Bank
- Mid Hudson Dietetic Association
- New York School Nutrition
- New York State Action for Healthy Kids
- New York State Association of School Nurses
- New York State Coalition for School-Based Health Centers
- New York State Department of Health
- New York State Dietetic Association
- New York State Division of Nutrition Bureau of Supplement Food Programs (WIC)
- New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance
- New York State PTA
- Open Door Family Medical Centers, Inc. WIC Program
- Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
- Schenectady Inner City Ministry
- Sisters of St. Joseph Brentwood Congregation, CSJ Non-Violence Group
- Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester, Leadership Team and Justice & Peace Committee
- SlowFood Schenectady County Community College
- Society for the Protection & Care of Children
- Suffolk County WIC Program
- The Sisters of Saint Ursula, American Region
- The WIC Association of New York State, Inc.
- Westchester County WIC Program
- William F. Ryan Community Health Center WIC Program
- Women of Reform Judaism - New York
- Wyckoff Heights Medical Center
- Action for Children North Carolina
- Alamance County Health Department
- Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project
- Bladen County Health Department WIC Program
- Cherokee WIC Program
- Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County
- Cumberland County WIC Program
- East Carolina University
- Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians WIC Program
- Edgecombe County WIC Program
- Food Bank of the Albemarle
- Hertford County Public Health Authority
- Local Nutrition Directors
- Nash County Health Department - WIC Program
- NC Prevention Partners
- New Hanover County Health Department
- North Carolina Association of Local Nutrition Directors
- North Carolina Dietetic Association
- North Carolina PTA
- Onslow County WIC Program
- RESULTS Asheville Group
- Rockingham County Schools Child Nutrition
- Rural Health Group, Inc. WIC Program
- School Nutrition Association of North Carolina
- Sisters of Mercy of the Americas South Central Community
- Transylvania County Department of Public Health
- City-County Health District
- Custer Health WIC Program
- Dakota Resource Council
- Grand Forks County Citizens Coalition
- Great Plains Food Bank
- MANNA FoodBank
- North Dakota Dietetic Association
- North Dakota PTA
- North Dakota Public Health Association
- North Dakota School Nutrition Association
- Sisters of the Presentation, Fargo
- South Agassiz Resource Council
- Young People's Healthy Heart Program
- Adams Brown Community Action Program WIC Program
- Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
- Allen County Health Department WIC Program
- Allen County WIC Program
- Athens City Schools Health and Wellness Team
- Auglaize County WIC Program
- Butler County WIC Program
- Central Ohio Breastfeeding Coalition
- Champaign County Farmers Market
- Children's Hunger Alliance
- Cincinnati WIC Program
- Cleveland Foodbank
- Clintonville WIC Program
- Columbus Ohio Public Health Department WIC Program
- Columbus Public Health
- Columbus WIC Program
- Community Outreach Assistant Team
- Community Relations Committee, Jewish Federation of Cleveland
- Coshocton County WIC Program
- Cuyahoga County Board of Health
- Cuyahoga County WIC Program
- Darke/Mercer County WIC Program
- Dorothy Lane Market
- Elyria City Health District
- Fairfield Department of Health, WIC Program
- Family Planning Association of Northeast Ohio, Inc.
- Fayette County WIC
- First Dynasty
- Food For Thought Toledo, Inc.
- Forest Park WIC Program
- Franklin Area Community Services
- Franklin County WIC Program
- Freestore Foodbank
- Geauga WIC Program
- Green Plate Club
- Guernsey County WIC
- Hamilton County WIC Program
- Hope Whispers Community Organization Inc.
- Jackson County WIC Program
- Lake County General Health District WIC Program
- Lake County Health Department WIC Program
- Lake County WIC Program
- Lucas County WIC Program
- Madison County WIC Program
- Marianist Novitiate
- Marion County WIC Program
- Marion Public Health
- Medina County Health Department, WIC Division
- Meigs County Health Department WIC Program
- Mercy Health Center/Carroll County WIC Program
- Mid-Ohio Foodbank
- Monroe County WIC Program
- Montgomery County WIC Program
- Muskingum County WIC Program
- Nationwide Children's Hospital WIC Program
- New Path Inc.
- Northside Health Center WIC Clinic
- Ohio Association of School Nurses
- Ohio Children's Foundation
- Ohio Department of Health
- Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Nutrition Services
- Ohio Department of Health WIC Program
- Ohio Dietetic Association
- Ohio Grocers Association
- Ohio Nutrition Council
- Ohio PTA
- Ohio Public Health Association
- Ohio School Based Health Care Association
- Ohio WIC Program
- Paulding County WIC Program
- Portage Columbiana WIC Program
- Preble County WIC Program
- ProMedica Health System
- Sandusky County Health Department
- School Nutrition Association of Ohio
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign, Logan Counties
- Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio
- Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley
- Seneca County WIC Program
- Shared Harvest Foodbank
- The Foodbank, Inc.
- The Leadership Council of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
- The MetroHealth System
- The Sisters of St. Francis
- Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
- Towne Learning Center
- Tuscarawas County General Health District
- Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services
- Tuscarawas County WIC Program
- United Way of Greater Toledo *
- Van Wert County WIC Program
- Vinton County WIC Program
- West Alexandria Christian Day Care Center
- West Ohio Food Bank
- Williams County WIC
- Wood County WIC Program
- Wyandot County WIC Program
- YWCA Hamilton
- Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma
- Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. WIC Program
- Little Hands Day School of Norman
- Muscogee (Creek) Nation WIC Program
- Oklahoma Dietetic Association
- Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition
- Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy
- Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
- School Nurse Organization of Oklahoma
- School Nutrition Association of Oklahoma
- Breastfeeding Coalition of Oregon
- Central Oregon Nutrition Consultants
- Children First for Oregon
- Coalition of Local Health Officials
- Community Action Program of East Central Oregon
- Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
- Oregon Dietetic Association
- Oregon Food Bank
- Oregon Public Health Institute
- Oregon Rural Action
- Oregon School Nutrition Association
- Oregon State University Student Dietetic Association
- Portland Tuv Ha'Aretz
- Siletz Valley Schools
- Umatilla Morrow County Head Start & WIC
- Advocacy for Justice and Peace Committee of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
- Allegheny Valley Association of Churches
- Bethlehem Haven
- BTC Center, Inc.
- Cancer Caring Center
- Central Moravian Food Bank
- Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
- Christian House Baptist Chapel
- Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County
- Community Health Services
- EST Enterprise
- Every Child Inc.
- Felician Sisters, Our Lady of Hope Province, Leadership Team
- Focus On Renewal
- Greater Berks Food Bank
- Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
- Green Sanctuary Earth Institute of Pennsylvania
- H & J Weinberg Regional Food Bank
- Health Promotion Council
- Hill House Association
- Holy Redeemer Social Services
- Hulton Arbors Food Pantry
- Interplay Child Care Center
- Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
- Maternity Care Coalition
- Michael's Place, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- N.O.R.T.H., Inc.
- Neville's Ark Food Bank
- Pennsylvania Association of Regional Food Banks
- Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses & Practitioners
- Pennsylvania Dietetic Association
- Pennsylvania Farmers Union
- Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association
- Pennsylvania PTA
- Pennsylvania Public Health Association
- Philabundance
- Pittsburgh Family Development
- Rainbow Kitchen Community Services
- Renewed Roots
- School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast PA
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania
- Shawmont School
- Shenango Valley Urban League, Inc., WIC Program
- Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill
- Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
- Sisters of St. Joseph NW PA
- Society of St. Vincent DePaul Butler District
- Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry
- The Arc of Greater Pittsburgh
- The Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, Philadelphia
- Unity Baptist Church Food Pantry
- Valley Community Services
- Westmoreland County Food Bank
- White Oak Cupboard Stretchers
- Women of Reform Judaism - Pennsylvania
- Women's Health & Environmental Network
- Word & Worship Church Food Bank
- YMCA of McKeesport
- Corporacion para el Desarrollo Economico y Comunitario de la Montana
- Farm Fresh Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Certified School Nurse Teachers, Inc.
- Rhode Island Community Food Bank
- Rhode Island Dietetic Association
- Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Fight Poverty With Faith
- Rhode Island KIDS COUNT
- Rhode Island PTA
- A Better Way Project GO (Gang Out)
- Eat Smart, Move More South Carolina
- Lowcountry Food Bank
- South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control WIC Program
- South Carolina Dietetic Association
- South Carolina PTA
- Dakota Rural Action
- Feeding South Dakota
- South Dakota Association of Public Health
- South Dakota Dietetic Association
- South Dakota Farmers Union
- South Dakota PTA
- South Dakota Public Health Association
- South Dakota Voices for Children
- Chattanooga Area Food Bank
- Gardens of Hope
- Mid-South Food Bank
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee
- Tennessee Dietetic Association
- Tennessee PTA
- Austin County WIC Program
- City of Dallas WIC Program
- City of Dallas WIC Program LO8 - Grand Prairie
- City of Dallas, WIC Program LO7 - Carrollton
- City of Laredo Health Department WIC Program
- Food Bank of Corpus Christi
- Food Bank of the Golden Crescent
- Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc.
- Garcia Middle School
- Health Occupations Students of America, Longview
- Hidalgo County WIC Program
- High Plains Food Bank
- Landolt Elementary School
- Marketing Management Inc.
- North Texas Food Bank
- Rio Grande Valley Food Bank
- Rockwall WIC Program
- San Antonio Food Bank
- South Plains Food Bank
- Texas Dietetic Association
- Texas Food Bank Network
- Texas Produce Association
- Texas PTA
- Voices for Children of San Antonio
- Waco-McLennan County Public Health District
- Wellness Pointe WIC Program
- School Nutrition Association of Utah
- Utah Food Industry Association
- Utah Public Health Association
- Utah Retail Merchants Association
- Utah School Nurse Association
- Wasatch County WIC
- AIDS Project of Southern Vermont
- Another Way
- Betty's Nursing Consultation
- Brigid's Kitchen
- Concord School
- Deerfield Valley Food Pantry
- Essex High School Health Office
- Faith In Action Northern Communities Partnership, Inc.
- Fletcher Elementary School
- Food Works at Two Rivers Center
- Jamaica/Wardsboro Community Food Pantry
- Lakeview Union Elementary
- Sharon Food Shelf
- St. Brigid's Kitchen
- Sunrise Family Resource Center
- The Center
- The St. Johnsbury School
- Vermont Adult Learning
- Vermont Dental Hygienists' Association
- Vermont Dietetic Association
- Vermont Foodbank
- Vermont Public Health Association
- Vermont School Nurse Association
- Vermont State PTA
- Voices for Vermont's Children
- Woodbury Calais Food Shelf
- Virgin Islands PTA
- Virgin Islands WCA
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
- Community Obesity Task Force
- Federation of Virginia Food Banks
- Feeding America Southwest Virginia
- FeedMore
- Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia
- Foodbank Of the Virginia Peninsula
- Growing Food & Community
- Lexington/Rockbridge Grows
- Norfolk Public Schools Child Nutrition Services
- Potomac Health Consulting
- Virginia Association of School Nurses
- Virginia PTA
- Virginia Retail Federation
- Voices for Virginia's Children
- Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition - Washington State
- Common Action Parenting
- Common Threads Farm and the Whatcom County School Garden Collective
- Des Moines Legacy Foundation
- Meucci Consulting
- Northwest Federation of Community Organizations
- Palouse Community Food Security
- Temple Beth Shalom
- Washington Food Coalition
- Washington Food Industry Association
- Washington Retail Association
- Washington State Dietetic Association
- Washington State Food and Nutrition Council
- Washington State PTA
- Washington State Public Health Association
- Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network
- WellSpring School
- Whatcom Day Academy
- Whatcom Farm-to-School Support Team
- Wheels of Life School
- Yakima Neighborhood Health Services
- Huntington Area Food Bank, Inc.
- Virginia Tech Dietetic Interns
- West Virginia Dietetic Association
- West Virginia Association of School Nurses
- West Virginia School Nutrition Association
- 16th St Community Health Center
- Adams Friendship School District
- Clark County Health Care Center WIC Program
- Community Health Improvement Plan - Oshkosh
- E.P. Rock Elementary School in Hudson
- Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
- Fond Du Lac County WIC Program
- Gibraltar Area Schools
- Green Bay Public School Food Service Department
- Jackson County WIC Program
- Living Stems
- Milwaukee Public Schools
- New Richmond School Food Service
- Newman Catholic Schools
- Nutrition & Health Association
- Nutrition Matters Inc.
- Oconto Falls Public Schools
- Oshkosh Area School District
- Polk County WIC Program
- Prescott School District
- Racine Kenosha Community Action Agency
- Research, Education, Action and Policy on Food Group
- Rusk County WIC Program
- School Nutrition Association of Wisconsin
- School Sisters of Notre Dame Global Justice and Peace Commission
- Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
- Seeds of Health WIC
- Shawano County Health Department WIC Program
- Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- St. Norbert Abbey Justice and Peace Committee
- St. Sebastian School
- Sustain Rural Wisconsin Network
- The Salvation Army
- Winnebago County Health Department
- Wisconsin Association of School Nurses
- Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Wisconsin Dietetic Association
- Wisconsin Farm to School Network
- Wisconsin Grocers Association
- Wisconsin PTA
- Wisconsin State WIC Association
- Wisconsin WIC Association
- Park County/Big Horn County WIC Program
- Win River School District
- Wyoming School Nurse Association
- Wyoming School Nutrition Association
Read the Feeding America letter of support the previous organizations signed onto.
* Note: These organizations did not sign the Feeding America letter of support.
Listen to Chairman Miller, Speaker Pelosi and other legislators discuss the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on a November 29 press conference call.
The committee has held seven hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (currently known as No Child Left Behind) during the 111th Congress. Chairman Miller has consistently stated his belief that the key to long-term economic recovery is a strong public education system. Richmond Confidential reported:
“‘In the middle of this economic chaos,’ [Miller] said, ‘this president knows we can’t compete in a world economy unless we modernize some of our basic systems.’”
…
“Creating a new standard educational model should incorporate the way that young people share information, he said.
“‘All of you create a huge amount of content every day, you teach your peers how to use that new phone, that new program,’ he said. ‘How do we call on people to participate in the educational process who are your peers?’”
Miller also spoke about the rising cost of college and how many students struggle to attain a college degree -- he wrote the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act to make college more affordable by increasing federal financial aid and making federal student loans easier to repay. Richmond Confidential recorded his comments:
“‘About half the people that show up for community college, they don’t show up for the second year,’ Miller said. ‘They don’t get the certificate they’re after, they don’t get the career opportunity, they don’t get the academic degree they were after and they may end up in debt.’
“Miller spoke in detail about recent reforms to the student loan industry. Subsidies worth $60 billion will be diverted over ten years from banks, which manage loans, to students in the form of grants and federal loans.
“The new law, he explained, also rewards those pursuing public service jobs. ‘If you get in the public health and education sectors, after ten years your loans go away,’ he said, ‘because you’re giving something back.’”
The maximum Pell Grant was raised to a record $5,550 in 2010 due to the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), authored by Chairman Miller and signed by President Obama in March. Not only has Miller worked to increase federal financial aid, he has made college loans more affordable – the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 has lowered interest rates on need-based student loans from 6.8 percent to the current 4.5 percent. The rates will drop again to 3.4 percent in July 2011.
Springfield, Ohio’s Springfield News-Sun wrote that the number of undergraduates relying on Pell Grants has increased:
“An increasing number of students locally and nationally have been receiving financial aid through the Federal Pell Grant Program.
“In Clark County, the recipients of the need-based grant increased more than 5,500 students between academic year 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Education. In the same time period, the grant disbursement increased by $26.9 million.”
The Herald Sun of Durham, North Carolina had similar news to report:
“According to recent figures issued by the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor, the number of Pell Grant recipients in North Carolina's 4th Congressional District rose 35 percent last year. The district, which includes all of Durham and Orange counties and parts of Wake and Chatham, had 27,471 students who qualified for the aid during the 2009-10 academic year, an increase of 7,145 over the year before.”
…
“Adding to the increase is that under a new student-loan bill signed by President Barack Obama in March, the Pell's Grant's eligibility criteria have changed, and that's made it a little easier to qualify than in the past, Ort and Rome both said.
“Equally important is that the Pell Grant is now authorized for summer school, for the first time.”
Tips for Applying for Federal Student Aid
“Not since the explosive years of the civil rights movement and the hard-fought debut of government-supported health care for the elderly and poor have so many big things -- love them or hate them -- been done so quickly.
“Gridlock? It may feel that way. But that's not the story of the 111th Congress -- not the story history will remember.”
The AP specifically referenced many of Chairman Miller’s achievements when listing important legislation Congressional Democrats have passed, including “a giant step toward universal [health care] coverage”, “an economic stimulus package… to avoid a full-blown depression”, “making college loans more affordable” and “making it easier for women to challenge pay discrimination.”
Chairman Miller pledged in 2008 to keep the Education and Labor Committee focused on rebuilding and strengthening the middle class during the 111th Congress.
"No child should have to learn on an empty stomach. Nearly 65 years ago, America made protecting the health of our children a national priority by developing the National School Lunch Program. This groundbreaking program has prevented hunger and promoted education by enabling our young people to have access to safe, balanced, and affordable meals at school. It has also supported their development, encouraged their learning capacity, and instilled life-long healthy habits. This year, during National School Lunch Week, we recognize the vital importance of this historic program, and we recommit to serving meals that will contribute to the health and well-being of a new generation."
...
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of October 10 through October 16, 2010, as National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to join the dedicated individuals who administer the National School Lunch Program in appropriate activities that support the health and well-being of our Nation's children."
The Committee passed the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act (H.R. 5504) on July 14, 2010 to dramatically improve children’s access to nutritious meals, enhance the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, implement new school food safety guidelines and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools.
“A national campaign aimed at curtailing the number of brain injuries suffered by student athletes was introduced Monday at Pinole Valley High School, where a concussion awareness poster was unveiled at a news conference held by federal officials and representatives of the National Football League.
“‘There was a time when athletes who left the field because of a concussion were told to suck it up and go back out and play,’ said Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez. Instead, he said, athletes should be told, ‘When in doubt, sit it out.’
“The poster being distributed by the federal Centers for Disease Control is similar to one now found in NFL locker rooms and describes possible symptoms on brain injuries that could be worsened if not diagnosed.”
Chairman Miller also spoke about legislation he recently introduced, the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act. San Francisco’s ABC affiliate, KGO, reported:
“Miller has introduced legislation that would set safety standards for public schools in dealing with concussions. This after hearing horror stories from student athletes during a Congressional hearing.
“‘In one case, a student is fully disabled because of an injury in a softball game with multiple concussions [which were] improperly diagnosed,’ says Miller.
“The stories were enough to move Miller to carry the ball on the danger of concussions.”
Watch a Contra Costa Times report on Chairman Miller's press conference below:
“In order to restore America's economic competitiveness and prosperity, the Obama administration has set a goal of once again having the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the year 2020 -- 10 short years away. Community colleges are central to this effort, and the president has specifically called on community colleges to help an additional 5 million Americans earn degrees and certificates in that time. Our challenge is to help these institutions meet the pressing education and job training needs of millions of students working to achieve the American dream. Students just like the ones in my classroom, whose lives are changed by the confidence and opportunity they gain from a quality education.”
…
“In the coming months, we will announce the first $500 million of a $2 billion, four-year investment in community colleges authorized by Congress and signed into law on March 30. This federal investment will support new state-of-the-art education, training and skills development programs to help out-of-work Americans re-enter the job market with increased knowledge and more marketable skills. The funds will enable community colleges to work with universities, business, government and unions to develop career pathways leading to more college graduates ready for the workforce as our economy recovers. In addition, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Obama administration has invested billions of dollars specifically in community colleges.”
Earlier this year, the Democratic Congress passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, a law that invests $500 million a year in community colleges for the next four years. All students -- including those who are returning to school after being in the workforce -- will have access to high-quality, low-cost higher education. More courses will be available, at times that work for students.
Click on the state or territory below for Pell Grant award totals and number of recipients for academic year 2008-09 and preliminary figures for academic year 2009-10, organized by congressional district. (Source: U.S. Department of Education)
States
DC and U.S. Territories
“An estimated 70,000 UC undergraduates are receiving federal Pell grants, which typically are awarded to students with family incomes below $50,000. According to the report, that is the largest number in UC history and represents 39% of its undergraduates, up from 35% last year.”
Last year, the Democratic Congress raised Pell scholarships to their highest level in history, $5,550 in 2010. The increase in federal financial aid was part of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), legislation drafted by Chairman Miller. SAFRA will help the country reach President Obama’s goal of producing the most college graduates by 2020 by helping make college affordable for American families.
University of California President Mark Yudof shared his news by visiting Grant Union High School in Del Paso Heights, Calif., telling students that a college education is not out of reach. The Sacramento Bee heard reaction from students:
“‘I'm from a low-income family and this makes me want to go to college even more,’ said Grant High junior Alana Gerasimchuk. ‘It makes me confident that I can go to UC Berkeley.’
“Former Grant High student CrystalKay Fairrington said it's important for kids in Del Paso Heights and other communities to know there are opportunities out there. Fairrington, who also spoke at the pep rally, attends UC Berkeley.
‘Students think it's beyond their reach, and it's not,” she said.”
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(Photo credit: White House)
Created with flickrSLiDR.
-- Chairman George Miller at NBC's Education Nation Summit.
Chairman Miller was in New York City on September 28 taking part in NBC’s Education Nation Summit. Before discussing his views on education reform with other policymakers, teachers, students and parents he appeared on The Today Show, Squawk Box, and Morning Joe to discuss education policy and jobs.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Watch Chairman Miller on Morning Joe, the Today Show and Squawk Box:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
“The family of a pre-schooler filed a lawsuit against the Mona Shores School District for restraining the disabled child in a chair for the entire school day for one semester, according to the suit.
“Ethan Holden was a special ed student at Ross Park Elementary School, documents say. His mother came to a class Christmas party in December 2008 and saw her son strapped in a chair, his feet lifted off the ground.
“She later learned this is how Ethan spent his days, the lawsuit says. Alan and Nichole Holden claim they were never informed of their son's restraint. Ethan has a speech problem and couldn't communicate easily with his teachers and other staff.
“The child had fallen over while strapped in the chair as he tried to escape, according to the suit, filed in July in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids.”
The Holden family traveled to Washington, D.C. to speak with Chairman Miller about their experience in late 2009. The Keeping All Students Safe Act would establish minimum safety standards in schools to protect children like Ethan from this abuse.
The Education and Labor Committee today held a hearing on legislation that would better educate students, parents and coaches about the danger of concussions in young athletes. Witnesses included a former NFL player, a neurologist, a high school athlete and a mother grieving the loss of her young son. CNN reported on the hearing:
“The House Education and Labor Committee's hearing came after news last week about the first active college football player known to have a debilitating condition usually seen in retired or aging athletes who've suffered repeated head injuries.
“Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy revealed that a 21-year-old defensive lineman, Owen Thomas, had mild stages of a type of brain damage called chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
“Thomas, a captain of the University of Pennsylvania football team and a student at the Wharton School of Business, hung himself in his room in April.
“Owen Thomas, 21, was found to have mild stages of a type of brain damage called chronic traumatic encephalopathyCTE, which is a type of brain damage, has been more typically seen in older former athletes and can cause neurobehavioral disorders and bizarre behavior, including suicide. It is impossible to determine whether Thomas' brain condition and suicide were linked.
“‘The only possible explanation we can see for the presence of CTE is that Owen started to play football at the age of 9,’ his mother, Rev. Katherine Brearley of Allentown, Pennsylvania, said in her testimony at the hearing.”
The Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act would help improve concussion safety and management for student athletes by requiring school districts to develop and implement a community-based plan for concussion safety and management.
And it’s not just football players who are at higher risk, as witness Alison Conca-Cheng showed. USA Today wrote:
“That point was brought home by Alison Conca-Cheng, a 17-year-old high school soccer player and honors student from Ellicott City, Md., who suffered a concussion when she collided with a teammate's head in a practice game.
“‘I had tunnel vision,’ she told the committee. ‘Then I had severe balance problems and lingering headaches. I was dazed and confused.’
“Conca-Cheng had taken a pre-season computerized baseline concussion test, which she was required to repeat after the injury. In two attempts, she failed to match her pre-injury scores on tests of short-term memory and reading and was kept out of practice for two weeks.”
Concussions for student athletes are a growing problem that demands immediate attention. According to recent research, high school athletes suffered 400,000 concussions in the 2005-2008 school years and studies show many sports-related concussions go unreported.
Youth athletes are at greater risk of sports-related concussions than college or professional athletes because their developing brains are more susceptible to injury. Female youth athletes are even more susceptible to concussions.
It’s up to parents and coaches to help recognize and make the decision to pull a student athlete off of the field, ice, court, or track if they think a student athlete might have a concussion. The Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act would make this decision easier by making sure school districts have concussion management plans that educate students, parents and school personnel about how to recognize and respond to concussions.
Specifically, this legislation will:
Increase Awareness of Concussion Signs, Symptoms and Risks
- Provide student athletes with information about how to prevent and manage concussions by requiring school districts to develop and implement a standard, community-based plan for concussion safety and management, as well as conduct outreach to parents and students about concussion and the plan.
Improve Concussion Safety and Management for Student Athletes
- Inform and empower student athletes, parents and school personnel about concussions by requiring schools to post information about concussions in a way that is publicly visible within the school and on the school website.
- Support students’ health and recovery by implementing “when in doubt, sit it out” policies that require a student suspected of sustaining a concussion during a school-sponsored athletic activity to be removed from participation, prohibited from returning to play that day and evaluated by a health care professional. Parents must also be notified.
- Prevent prolonged recovery by making sure students recovering from concussions have the supports they need as they return to athletic and academic activities in school.
This legislation is supported by groups representing teachers and parents, school administrators, the disability community, medicine, sports medicine and athletic organizations, including:
- American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology
- American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
- American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
- American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators
- American Chiropractic Association Council on Sports Injuries and Physical Fitness
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
- American Council on Exercise
- American Dance Therapy Association
- American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine
- Association for Applied Sport Psychology
- Athletic Trainers’ of Massachusetts
- Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey
- Atlanta Hawks
- Autism National Committee
- Avamere Health and Fitness Club
- Brain Injury Association of America
- Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts
- Brain Injury Association of Mississippi
- Brain Injury Association of Nebraska
- Brain Injury Association of Ohio
- Brain Injury Association of Texas
- Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin
- California Athletic Trainers’ Association
- California Community College Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Dr. Robert C. Cantu, MA, MD, FACS, FACSM
- Connecticut Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Council on Professional Standards for Kinesiotherapy
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Brain Injury (CTSE)
- Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
- Easter Seals
- Hart to Heart Fitness
- Hawaii Athletic Trainers’ Association (HATA)
- Helen Keller National Center
- IDEA Health and Fitness Association
- Illinois Athletic Trainers’ Association
- International Society of Sports Psychiatry
- Iowa Athletic Trainers’ Society
- Kansas Athletic Trainers’ Society
- Kentucky Athletic Trainers’ Society
- Korey Stringer Institute
- Learning Disabilities Association of America
- Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Maine Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Maryland Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Medical Fitness Association
- Michigan Athletic Trainers’ Society
- Mississippi Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center
- Missouri Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Missouri Valley College Athletic Training Education Program
- Missouri Valley College Athletic Training Student Organization
- Montana Athletic Trainers’ Association
- National Academy of Neuropyschology (NAN)
- National Assembly on School-Based Health Care
- National Academy of Sports Medicine
- National Association for Health and Fitness
- National Association of Private Special Education Centers
- National Association of School Nurses (NASN)
- National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
- National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
- National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics
- National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE)
- National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDE)
- National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)
- National Athletic Trainers’ Association Executive Committee for Education
- National Basketball Athletic Trainers’ Association
- National Brain Injury Association of America
- National Center for Learning Disabilities
- National Coalition on Deaf-Blindness
- National Council for Promoting Physical Activity
- National Council of Youth Sports
- National Disability Rights Network
- National Down Syndrome Society
- National Football League (NFL)
- National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association
- National School Boards Association (NSBA)
- National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and Hall of Fame
- National Strength and Conditioning Association
- Nevada Athletic Trainers’ Association
- New York State Athletic Trainers’ Association
- North American Booster Club Association
- North American Brain Injury Society
- North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine
- Ohio Valley Center for Brain Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation
- Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
- Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society
- Pop Warner Little Scholars
- School Social Work Association of America
- Sports Legacy Institute
- TASH
- The Arc
- The Sarah Jane Brain Project
- The Sage Colleges, School of Health Sciences
- South Dakota Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Southcoast Hospitals Group
- Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Southwest Bone and Joint Institute, PC
- United Cerebral Palsy
- USA Football
- USA Luge
- US Ski and Snowboard Association
- Washington State Athletic Trainers’ Association
- West Virginia Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association
- Wyoming Athletic Trainers Association
At the request of several members of the Education and Labor Committee, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigated the prevalence of concussions in high school athletics and found that concussions often go unrecognized. Recent research shows that concussions can have serious repercussions for student athletes both on the field and in the classroom. During the 2005-2008 school years, an estimated 400,000 concussions occurred in high school athletics – brain injuries that often go unnoticed and untreated.
The Education and Labor Committee held a full committee hearing on the issue in May and hosted a field hearing in Long Island, New York in early September.
CNN Health summarized the report and its implications:
“More and more children and teenagers are suffering traumatic brain injuries while playing basketball, according to a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
“Researchers examined emergency room visits of people under the age of 20 who were treated for basketball related injuries between 1997 and 2007 and found the number of traumatic brain injuries shot up by 70%.
“Overall the proportion for traumatic brain injury doubled for boys and tripled for girls, said senior study author Dr. Laura B. McKenzie.
“Coaches, athletes and parents need to understand what can cause traumatic brain injuries and learn to recognize a possible concussion according to McKenzie.”
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York today chaired a field hearing in Long Island to explore the prevalence of concussions among youth athletes and examine the best prevention strategies. Witnesses included two former NFL players, a high school athletic trainer, and a former high school athlete who suffered numerous concussions. After hearing their testimony, committee members concluded “legislative action is needed to ensure safety in all high schools.”
Today’s hearing marks the second time the Education and Labor Committee has investigated the prevalence of concussions in youth sports and its impact on academic outcomes.
Iowa’s Waterloo Courier reported:
“Iowa school districts will split a pot of $96.5 million in federal funding intended to save or create education jobs.
“Districts will receive monthly payments throughout the 2010-11 fiscal year starting in September or October based on enrollment. In Northeast Iowa, that means a total of $2.35 million for Waterloo Community Schools, $885,245 for Cedar Falls Schools, $386,161 for Waverly-Shell Rock, $300,669 for Independence and $134,235 for Hudson.”
The Salt Lake Tribune has similar good news to share, “The Alpine district already has added more teachers and the Provo district is paying for full-day kindergarten.”
The Austin Daily Herald of Austin, Minn. also reported that many local school teachers are able to keep their jobs due to the Congress’ action:
“More Austin Public School teachers will keep their jobs thanks to an estimated $1 million dollars in federal aid from the Education Jobs Fund.”
…
“The incoming aid helps ease the district’s projected $1 to 1.5 million deficit for next year, acting as an insurance against possible job cuts in the immediate future.”
States are applying for and receiving funds:
In May, the committee held a hearing that looked at the effect of concussions on student achievement. Witnesses testified that student athletes’ academic performance in school suffers when concussions are not properly managed. Each year, about 140,000 high school athletes suffer concussions.
WHAT:
Field hearing on “The Impact of Concussions on High School Athletes: The Local Perspective”
WHO:
Craig LoNigro, Athletic Trainer, Physical Education and Health Teacher, Comsewogue High School, Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.
Caitlin Monaghan, former high school athlete, Garden City, N.Y.
Dr. Hayley Queller, M.D., Orthopedic Associates of Long Island, East Setauket, N.Y.
Additional Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Monday, September 13, 2010
11:00 AM EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
Babylon Student Center
Suffolk County Community College-Ammerman Campus
2nd floor
Selden, New York
What is the new federal student loan interest rate?
Continue reading for the answer.
- 4.25%
- 4.5%
- 5.5%
- 6.25%
On July 1, 2011 the interest rate will decrease once more, to 3.4%.
In addition to lowering interest rates on federal student loans, the Democratic-led Congress has:
- Raised the annual maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550
- Saved taxpayers $61 billion, which was used to re-invest in higher education and reduce the federal deficit
- Created, and then expanded, the income-based student loan repayment program
- Provided up to $4,000 a year in tuition assistance to students who commit to teaching in a high-need school or subject area for four years after graduation
- Provided loan forgiveness to graduates who work in public service or at a non-profit for 10 years
“…with increased focus on school reform under this administration, it seems some companies with little or no expertise in education are purporting to be experts in school turnaround to try and take advantage of available federal money. Companies who are hired to help turn around schools as partners should have the best expertise and the best qualifications. I plan to hold a hearing and use the committee’s oversight authority to investigate the process of hiring providers to help turn around schools.”
Turning around under-performing and failing schools is one of the objectives of the committee’s bipartisan rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (currently known as NCLB). Miller chaired a hearing on successful school turnaround in May and made the importance of the issue clear, saying to his fellow committee members:
“There are 5,000 chronically low-performing schools in this country doing a disservice to
hundreds of thousands of students.
“Two thousand high schools produce 70 percent of our nation’s dropouts.”
Turning around chronically under-performing schools can have significant impact on local communities, and many private companies have begun offering turnaround services to school districts. But, a recent New York Times investigation revealed that some of these companies lack the necessary experience to effectively overhaul a failing school:
“With the Obama administration pouring billions into its nationwide campaign to overhaul failing schools, dozens of companies with little or no experience are portraying themselves as school-turnaround experts as they compete for the money.”
…
“Many of the new companies seem unprepared for the challenge of making over a public school, yet neither the federal government nor many state governments are organized to offer effective oversight, said Jack Jennings, president of the Center on Education Policy, a nonprofit group in Washington.”
“With days to go before classes begin, the Broward County School Board gave the OK Tuesday for its superintendent to start recalling nearly 100 laid-off teachers and other teachers whose work has been curtailed.
“Broward schools will receive about $54 million to rehire teachers and other employees, thanks to a new federal stimulus package with $10 billion earmarked for education jobs.”
Chairman Miller has been a lead congressional advocate for emergency aid to stop teacher layoffs, saying on many occasions, “We can’t allow a child’s education to become a casualty of what is happening in our economy.”
Miller proposed a $23 billion dollar emergency “Education Jobs Fund” in late 2009 and authored the Local Jobs for America Act, which would help save local communities from devastating public sector layoffs.
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, written by Miller, became law on March 30, 2010 as part of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The law, which saves taxpayers $61 billion over 10 years by switching to the more efficient Direct Loan program, will help America reach President Obama’s goal of producing the highest proportion of college graduates by 2020. Miller wrote:
“We’ve taken important steps to ensure the stability of the student loan programs, to make college more affordable and help families and students manage their student loan debt.
“First, we increased the efficiency of the loan program so that we have more to invest in our students, and we increased the reliability of the programs so that students and families are never again left wondering where to turn in a difficult economy.
“Earlier this year, as part of the historic health care legislation, we made the single largest investment in federal student aid ever and transformed the way student loans programs operate.
“With President Obama’s direction we made the common-sense decision to stop wasting taxpayer money on subsidies to big banks and instead use that money to invest directly in students.
“By making the switch to direct lending, we saved $61 million that we gave directly back to the student. We raised the Pell grant scholarship, we made it easier for borrowers to repay their loans, regardless of their income, and we invested in community colleges and historically black colleges and universities. Most significantly, we made all of these investments in students and our economic future at no cost to taxpayers.
“Second, too often recent graduates look beyond careers in public service because they worry they will not be able to afford to pay back their loans. Recognizing this struggle, we made it easier for students to consider careers in public service.
“Under a program passed in 2007 as part of sweeping college affordability legislation, college graduates who enter into public service careers, such as teachers, public defenders and prosecutors, are eligible for complete loan forgiveness after 10 years of qualifying public service and loan payments. At a time when Americans’ interest in public service jobs is surging, this program is especially helpful.
“Third, we instituted a means for students to repay their loans that caps borrowers’ monthly loan payments at just 15% of their discretionary income. After 25 years in the program, borrowers’ debts will be completely forgiven.”
“Take, for example, a recent graduate with $30,000 in federal student loans and a starting salary of $25,000. Under this repayment program, this borrower’s monthly loan payment would be $110--one-third of the $345 monthly payment under a standard plan.
“Starting in 2014 new borrowers who are eligible for this repayment program will be able to cap their monthly loan payments at just 10% of their discretionary income. Borrowers who responsibly make their monthly payments will see their remaining balance forgiven after 20 years of repayment.”
The News-Leader of Springfield, Mo. reported:
“The bill would send Missouri $292 million for Medicaid and $189.7 million to help cash-strapped schools rehire staff or prevent future layoffs. The education funding will save 3,000 jobs statewide and more than 1,200 in the 4th, 7th and 8th congressional districts. The Medicaid funding would help states meet other budget needs, such as keeping thousands of police officers, nurses and other public workers employed.”
Montana’s Great Falls Tribune passed on similar news:
“Montana will receive $38 million in Medicaid funding and $30.7 million to avoid layoffs, mostly of K-12 teachers, from the bill. The U.S. Education Department estimates that the money will save about 700 teachers' jobs in Montana.”
California’s Coachella Valley will also benefit greatly, according to The Desert Sun:
“Valley schools may be able to rehire teachers and shrink the size of classes when school starts now that a $26 billion jobs bill has become law.
“‘I guess there is such a thing as Christmas in August,’ said Ricardo Medina, superintendent of Coachella Valley Unified School District.”
Chairman Miller appeared on MSNBC yesterday morning to voice his passionate support for the legislation and discuss why job creation is vital to the economic recovery:
“What we’re talking about is creating jobs for teachers, for firemen, for police, for nurses – the people that hold our public spaces together in this country. And we should not have our children lose a year’s education because the Republicans refuse to create jobs.
“And you know what they call teachers and firemen and nurses and policemen with jobs? You know what small businesses call them? They call them customers.”
This morning Chairman Miller appeared on MSNBC to explain why the House is returning from its 6-week district work period to vote on this important piece of legislation.
Chairman Miller also wrote a letter to the editor about the importance of saving teacher jobs.
After the Senate passed the measure last week, Chairman Miller said:
“I applaud the Senate for passing this emergency legislation that protects not only our teacher jobs but our economic competitiveness. Next week, my colleagues and I in the House will return to Washington to take this important vote -- a vote we’ve taken twice already in the House -- to keep thousands of teachers in their jobs. We need this bill to ensure our teachers remain in the classroom and our students continue to learn. It’s clear our students, our teachers and our country will reap the benefits of our decisive action. This investment will save jobs and help prevent districts from shortening the school year, increasing class sizes and closing libraries in the wake of horrific and damaging budget cuts. While this latest round of funding isn’t enough to avert all layoffs, it is a critical investment in our children and in our future.”
Based on analysis from the Council of Economic Advisors of projected State budget shortfalls for FY 2011, we estimated that as many as 100,000 to 300,000 education jobs could be at risk across the country in the upcoming school year.
We know States and districts are working hard to find ways to minimize job losses and keep cuts away from classrooms, but some are making cuts that we know will have an impact on kids. Furlough days, cutting after school programs, and cutting or reducing summer school are some of the tough choices being made when we know we need to be expanding learning time.
We also know these job losses would ripple through the wider economy and undercut ongoing efforts to create jobs.
That is why the House will take a rare August vote to pass this legislation and send it to President Obama for his signature prior to the start of the new school year.
![TeacherJobsSavedInfographic.jpeg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/images/TeacherJobsSavedInfographic.jpeg)
See below the fold for a table of each state's allocation and an estimation of teacher jobs saved. [Updated to reflect new projection on August 9, 2010]
State or Territory | Projected Allocation ($) | Estimated Jobs Funded * |
Alabama | 149,539,554 | 2,700 |
Alaska | 23,540,399 | 400 |
Arizona | 211,824,489 | 4,000 |
Arkansas | 91,311,898 | 1,800 |
California | 1,201,534,585 | 16,500 |
Colorado | 159,521,991 | 2,600 |
Connecticut | 110,486,654 | 1,500 |
Delaware | 27,425,111 | 400 |
District of Columbia | 18,072,658 | 200 |
Florida | 554,821,008 | 9,200 |
Georgia | 322,313,830 | 5,700 |
Hawaii | 39,311,983 | 700 |
Idaho | 51,641,026 | 900 |
Illinois | 415,397,841 | 5,700 |
Indiana | 207,058,122 | 3,600 |
Iowa | 96,490,048 | 1,800 |
Kansas | 92,457,070 | 1,800 |
Kentucky | 134,945,560 | 2,200 |
Louisiana | 147,031,839 | 2,800 |
Maine | 39,068,602 | 700 |
Maryland | 178,929,680 | 2,500 |
Massachusetts | 204,016,907 | 2,900 |
Michigan | 318,132,952 | 4,700 |
Minnesota | 166,717,087 | 2,800 |
Mississippi | 97,823,122 | 2,000 |
Missouri | 189,727,725 | 3,300 |
Montana | 30,737,469 | 700 |
Nebraska | 58,890,974 | 1,100 |
Nevada | 83,113,178 | 1,400 |
New Hampshire | 40,988,015 | 700 |
New Jersey | 268,104,738 | 3,900 |
New Mexico | 64,869,642 | 1,100 |
New York | 607,591,394 | 8,200 |
North Carolina | 298,458,355 | 5,700 |
North Dakota | 21,517,716 | 400 |
Ohio | 361,179,690 | 5,500 |
Oklahoma | 119,380,027 | 2,400 |
Oregon | 117,949,095 | 2.000 |
Pennsylvania | 387,815,661 | 5,900 |
Puerto Rico | 129,371,097 | 3,100 |
Rhode Island | 32,929,312 | 500 |
South Carolina | 143,700,517 | 2,600 |
South Dakota | 26,292,261 | 500 |
Tennessee | 195,881,328 | 3,700 |
Texas | 830,820,460 | 14,500 |
Utah | 101,303,951 | 1,800 |
Vermont | 19,304,177 | 300 |
Virginia | 249,482,375 | 3,800 |
Washington | 208,335,375 | 3,300 |
West Virginia | 54,657,667 | 1,100 |
Wisconsin | 179,650,099 | 3,000 |
Wyoming | 17,533,686 | 300 |
American Samoa | 8,324,352 | |
Guam | 20,146,108 | |
Northern Mariana Islands | 8,289,850 | |
Virgin Islands | 13,239,690 | |
Total Estimated Jobs | 161,000 |
Sources: State-level funding estimates from Department of Education; compensation estimates based on National Center for Education Statistics data.
* These estimates should be viewed as provisional and subject to margins of error.
“We owe it to the children who aren't reaching their potential because they're not getting the nutrition they need during the day. We owe it to the parents who are working to keep their families healthy and looking for a little support along the way. We owe it to the schools that are trying to make progress but don't have the resources they need. And we owe it to our country -- because our prosperity depends on the health and vitality of the next generation.”
Hers is a sentiment shared by many – that there is no more important investment we can make for our country’s future than feeding our children healthy meals. Television host and author Rachael Ray has also been vocal on the issue, appearing with Chairman George Miller to introduce the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act and publishing an op-ed in today’s issue of the Albany Times-Union. Ray also pushes for quick passage of a child nutrition bill and argues passionately in favor of the legislation:
“Nearly 17 million American children struggle against hunger. For these children, school food programs are sometimes the only access they have to food. At the same time, one in three American kids is overweight or suffering from childhood obesity, because their families simply cannot afford fresh, nutritious foods. School food systems are one of the few ways we have to provide good nutrition to all of our kids.
…
“Child hunger and malnutrition in the world's wealthiest nation is morally unacceptable. The U.S. economy loses at least $28 billion per year due to poor school performance and long-term health care spending due to poor child nutrition. We can pay now or pay a much greater price in every sense later.”
These centers provide independent living skills training, peer counseling, and other vital training services for Americans with disabilities. Disability Scoop commented on the necessity of the new law:
“The law comes in response to a funding disparity which emerged as a result of last year’s stimulus package, leaving some independent living centers eligible for far more money in future years, while other centers would be underfunded.
“The legislation signed by Obama this week closes the gap, ensuring that stimulus dollars won’t compromise future funding of the centers.”
Chairman Miller praised the President’s support for the Independent Living Centers Technical Adjustment Act and stated:
“In many areas, independent living centers are the primary provider of services in a community for people with disabilities. Staff at these centers work to empower people with disabilities with choices and the opportunities to help themselves live more independent lives.”
“Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will contribute more than $1.3 million in additional federal support in providing vital services to Bergen County families, according to the Bergen County Community Action Partnership (BCCAP). The stimulus funds have allowed for the expansion of both Head Start to 40 additional families and the inception of Early Head Start for 72 families.”
The Head Start programs provide early childhood education services to over one million children, and families and workers depend on these programs not only for invaluable early education, but for employment. Nancy Griner, Head Start Director for the area, attested to the benefits of early education in the article:
"This holistic program includes education, health, mental health, social services, and nutrition services for children from income eligible families. Also, additional special services are provided for children with disabilities. We focus on the total development of the child, while creating a more stable family environment."
Head Start programs are services that our communities cannot afford to lose, especially in tough economic times -- and this isn’t a story that’s limited to New Jersey. Local papers around the United States have written on the importance of Recovery Act funds for early education in their communities, including UNR News in Nevada, The New Mexico Independent, and Oklahoma’s The Express-Star. The story of the Recovery Act’s success is being told in communities nationwide.
UPDATE: The breakfast has concluded. Visit their website for the archive of the event.
Join Chairman Miller, Randi Weingarten, Tim Daly, Lisa Guernsey and Carmel Martin for a lively discussion about education and education policy in America.
The National Journal's website says:
There is consensus in the education sector that the American school system must transition from one designed around an agrarian and industrial society to one that meets the demands of the knowledge economy. The Obama administration has poured an unprecedented amount of money—upwards of $100 billion—toward accomplishing that goal. How far have we come and how much further do we need to go? As a means of addressing this question, we will take stock of the administration's key education initiatives as well as state-led efforts and ultimately, how the weakened economy has affected these programs. Race to the Top, reauthorization of No Child Left Behind and Common Core, among other topics, will be examined.
“From journalists and educators to politicians and parents -- there is a growing sense that a quiet revolution is underway in our homes and schools, classrooms and communities.”
During his presentation, Secretary Duncan announced the 19 finalists for the Race to the Top grant program, the impetus behind this education revolution. He continued:
“With a budget of just $5 billion dollars -- less than one percent of total education spending in America -- this minor provision in the Recovery Act has unleashed an avalanche of pent-up education reform activity at the state and local level.
“Forty-eight states voluntarily collaborated to raise the bar and create common college and career-ready standards -- solving the single biggest drawback of NCLB -- without a federal mandate or a federal dollar. So far, 27 states have adopted those standards. Even Massachusetts -- universally viewed with the highest standards in the country -- voted unanimously to adopt last week.”
Race to the Top was enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and provides competitive grants to selected states that commit to key areas of education reform.
The success of Race to the Top has helped encourage education reform across the country and sets the stage for the kind of bipartisan overhaul The Education and Labor Committee is currently undertaking to rewrite the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This “quiet revolution,” as Secretary Duncan put it, is welcome news for students, parents, and teachers across the country.
WHO:
U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee
WHAT:
National Journal LIVE’s Education Week Event, “Inside the Issue: Education” featuring Chairman George Miller
WHEN:
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
8:30 A.M - Keynote program begins
WHERE:
Top of the Hill (Reserve Officers Association)
One Constitution Avenue NE
Washington DC
Note: This event will be live webcast on the National Journal website. To RSVP, click here.
Chairman Miller, who championed the bill in 1990 and worked to strengthen the legislation in 2008, stated:
“We wrote the ADA to ensure America works for all Americans. The law broke down barriers, prohibited discrimination, promoted access and provided basic civil rights to people with disabilities. Over the past 20 years, people with disabilities have been able to access educational opportunities and employment. They’ve been able to use buildings, transportation, and communities that once presented huge obstacles.”
While today is a day to celebrate a great accomplishment, there is still much work to do. The Washington Post reported today that Americans with disabilities still face large challenges in the job market:
“It is a brutal job market for many workers, but even more so for those with disabilities, who can struggle in the best of times. For them, the unemployment rate is now 14.4 percent -- 50 percent higher than it is for other workers, and the jobs gap is larger still because so many are not counted as being in the workforce.”
Chairman Miller also noted that disabled Americans still face unfair burdens and urged Congress to continue its work on their behalf:
“It’s time for us to look to the future, to honor the successes of the past and build upon them to continue to increase the options of people with disabilities. We still have a long way to go to improve educational outcomes for all students, especially students with disabilities and to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”
"A gallon of milk is $3-something. A bottle of orange soda is 89 cents…Do the math."
The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, recently approved by the Education and Labor Committee on a bipartisan vote, aims to help solve this problem by increasing access to nutritious foods year-round in school, after school, during holidays, on the weekends, and during the summer. Among other improvements to childhood nutrition programs, the legislation increases the reimbursement rate for school lunch for the first time in more than 30 years – a move that will significantly increase the availability of healthy foods to children. Cliff Toomey of the Indian River School District in Delaware attests to the importance of the increase in today’s News Journal:
“‘Higher reimbursement rates would mean more food choices,’ he said. ‘It would allow us to possibly go with more fresh fruits and vegetables.’”
Today, approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to nutritious food and one in three children is overweight or obese. Pam Fessler of NPR succinctly describes the relationship between hunger and obesity:
“Hunger in America is complicated. It's not just getting enough food, but getting the right food — and making the right choices.”
- 9 percent
- 16 percent
- 27 percent
- 65 percent
Continue reading for the answer.
That's right, 9 million young adults -- 27 percent of all Americans aged 17 to 24 -- are too overweight to enlist in the military. "To put this problem into perspective, today’s young Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 would have to collectively lose 390 million pounds in order to be at a healthy weight," said Paul D. Monroe, U.S. Army (Ret.), Executive Advisory Council, Mission: Readiness, at a committee hearing.
Yesterday, the Committee passed the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act to support children’s health and reduce childhood hunger by dramatically improving federal child nutrition programs. "This bill addresses the need to work with children of all ages, from infants to high school age, to help them form healthy habits," said Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, chair of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities and original co-sponsor of the legislation.
After the vote, First Lady Michelle Obama released her first-ever formal statement on pending legislation. She praising the committee for its work on her signature issue: reducing childhood obesity. The First Lady stated:
“I congratulate Chairman Miller and the House Education and Labor Committee on the successful bipartisan passage of a child nutrition reauthorization bill out of the Committee today. This important legislation will combat hunger and provide millions of schoolchildren with access to healthier meals, a critical step in the battle against childhood obesity. I urge both the House and Senate to take their child nutrition bills to the floor and pass them without delay. The President looks forward to signing a final bill this year, so that we can make significant progress in improving the nutrition and health of children across our nation.”
Today, the Committee will consider the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act to expand access and improve the nutritional quality of meals in schools and child care.
The legislation would help set American children on a path of healthy eating and healthy living at a time when approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children are overweight or obese. Today, over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs.
H.R. 5504 would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings, and for the first time, establish nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.
In April, 29 miners were killed at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, the worst coal mine disaster in America in 40 years. In the last decade, more than 600 miners have died while working in our nation’s mines.
On Wednesday, July 14, the House Education and Labor Committee will consider bipartisan legislation to expand access and improve the nutritional quality of meals in schools and child care. The committee examined H.R. 5504, the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act” earlier this month.
The legislation would help set American children on a path of healthy eating and healthy living at a time when approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children are overweight or obese. Today, over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs.
H.R. 5504 would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings, and for the first time, establish nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.
Communities around the county are taking steps to provide their students with year-round access to quality meals and are demonstrating why ensuring access to healthy food is vital:
In Sioux City, SD, increasing numbers of children are eating healthy meals through the Summer Food Service Program, which serves children from low-income families. The Argus Leader reported:
“At the YWCA in downtown Sioux Falls on Wednesday, primarily elementary-aged boys and girls filed through a serving line while workers filled their trays with a sloppy joe sandwich, green beans, pineapple and milk. On average, the agency dishes out 220 lunches and 110 breakfasts each weekday, said Karla Johnson, director of child care services.
“‘There's no question in my mind that this program is really helping those children and their families. And we're seeing more of that,’ she said.”
According to the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore’s Pimlico Road Youth Program has been similarly successful and has witnessed increased need for their services. The Baltimore Sun reported:
“Workers at the Northwest Baltimore center say at least half the students have come to depend on the sponsored meals to tide them over for the evening, food that serves as a substitute for the free lunches the children receive during the school year.
“With school out, state and federal officials say about 25 percent of the 328,000 low-income Maryland children who received free school meals during the year got them last summer. The numbers, however, are on the rise.”
The legislation would help set American children on a path of healthy eating and healthy living at a time when approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children are overweight or obese. Today, over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs.
H.R. 5504 would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings, and for the first time, establish nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.
WHAT:
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 5504, the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act”.
WHEN:
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
2:00 p.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This markup will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
Below is a statement from Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, author of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act:
“Secretary Duncan has taken an important step forward today for America’s workers and the future of this country. By getting this money out the door quickly, he’s accomplished the critical tasks of both helping to save jobs and retrain and retain workers while also ensuring our student loan programs are operating in the best interest of students and families working hard to pay for college.”
Read the Department’s full release.
More information about investments in students and families.
It’s been 30 years since the regulations limiting junk food sales in schools were updated, despite big changes in nutrition science.
Today, 23 million children and adolescents are obese or overweight.
Obesity rates for children between 6 and 11 years old have more than tripled over the last 40 years.
Throughout their lives, these children are at greater risk for heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, cancer, and social and psychological problems.
One of the most important ways to help fight this epidemic is to ensure that higher quality, more nutritious foods are sold throughout the day in our schools.
This is why I have introduced H.R. 1324, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act, which requires that all foods sold in schools throughout the entire school day are based on the most current nutrition science.
This bill has 170 cosponsors and has been endorsed by over 90 public health, school, food and beverage industry, and nutrition groups, including the American Beverage Association, General Mills, and the American Heart Association. I am pleased that this language has been included in Chairman George Miller's (D-CA) H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act.
This provision does not affect school parties or foods sold during sporting events or band concerts in which parents are present. It only regulates foods sold in schools, and allows USDA to exempt foods sold as part of fundraisers. It’s also important to realize that schools that are switching to selling healthier foods and are not losing revenue.
Studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Center for Weight and Health at U.C. Berkeley found that the majority of schools switching to healthier foods in their vending machines and a la carte lines actually increased their total revenues.
In other words, it is a win-win situation for schools—healthier students and a healthier bottom line as well
The cost of paying for college has become a heavy burden for many Americans. Young people and adults across country are pursuing higher education in record rates, but even as the economy recovers, American families are still struggling to pay tuition bills. The cost of college, moreover, continued to rise during the economic downturn and currently shows no sign of slowing.
Given these challenges, it’s critical for current college students, new or soon-to-be graduates, and workers to know about new benefits that go into effect July 1, 2010 to make student loan payments manageable for millions of Americans. From eliminating wasteful subsidies to private bankers and switching to a system of direct lending of federal student loans to increasing the maximum Pell Grant scholarship, to reducing the monthly payment borrowers must pay back on their loans, this Democratic Congress has made historic investments in our economic future – all at no cost to taxpayers.
Specifically, borrowers will see the following changes go into effect:
-
The maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship will be increased to an
all-time high of $5,550.
- Additionally, Pell Grants will reliably increase with the cost of inflation beginning in 2013, by linking the scholarship to the CPI. By 2017, it is expected that the maximum grant will reach $5,975.
- All new federal student loans will be originated through the Direct
Loan program, instead of through lenders subsidized by taxpayers in the
federally-guaranteed student loan program. Unlike the private
lender-based program, the Direct Loan program is entirely insulated from
market swings and can therefore guarantee students access to low-cost
federal college loans, in any economy.
- 100 percent of Direct Loans will be serviced by private lenders and unlike loans made by banks, Direct Loans can only be serviced by workers in the U.S., guaranteeing borrowers high-quality customer service and keeping good jobs in America.
- Cheaper interest rates on need-based (subsidized) federal student
loans. The interest rates on subsidized federal student loans decreases
from 5.6 percent to 4.5 percent. This is the third of four annual cuts
in this interest rate.
On-going Benefits:
- Reasonable and affordable monthly college loan payments for
borrowers. On July 1, 2009, a new Income-Based Repayment program went
into effect that capped borrowers’ monthly loan payments at just 15
percent of their discretionary income (15 percent of what a borrower
earns above 150 percent of the poverty level for their family size).
After 25 years in the program, borrowers’ debts will be completely
forgiven.
- Starting in 2014, new borrowers who are eligible for Income-Based Repayment will be able to cap their monthly loan payments at just 10 percent of their discretionary income. Borrowers who responsibly make their monthly payments will see their remaining balance forgiven after 20 years of repayment.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Graduates who enter into public
service careers, such as teachers, public defenders and prosecutors,
firefighters, nurses, non-profit workers and more, are eligible for
complete loan forgiveness after 10 years of qualifying public service
and loan payments. (This program began on October 1, 2007.)
![Thumbnail image for Dina Titus.jpg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/assets_c/2009/03/Dina%20Titus-thumb-125x125-316.jpg)
For example, starting today, students will see lower interest rates on their student loans, down to 4.5% from 5.6%. This change will result in substantial savings for students over the life of their loan. For 2010 we have raised the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550; the maximum Pell Grant will continue to increase in the years to come, up to $5,975 by 2017. And this summer all new federal student lending will be converted to the effective and cost-efficient Direct Loan program. Instead of providing banks with taxpayer subsidies, students will receive loans directly from the government, saving taxpayers $61 billion.
SAFRA also includes $2 billion over four years for community colleges. As the largest part of the nation’s higher education system, community colleges enroll more than 6 million students and are growing rapidly. This is certainly true in Southern Nevada.
I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee to increase the availability of grants and low-interest student loans to make college more affordable for all students.
Tips for Applying for Federal Loans and Grants
Supporters of H.R. 5504 include:
- 4C Council of Santa Clara County
- 9to5, National Association of Working Women
- Action for Children North Carolina
- Action for Healthy Kids
- Advocates for Better Children’s Diets
- Advocates for Children and Youth, Maryland
- Afterschool Alliance
- Alberts Organics
- America SCORES
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Association for Health Education
- American Beverage Association
- American College of Preventive Medicine
- American Commodity Distribution Association
- American Dental Association
- American Diabetes Association
- American Dietetic Association
- American Farmland Trust
- American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations, AFL-CIO
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
- American Heart Association
- American Humane Association
- American Public Health Association
- American Rivers
- American School Health Association
- American Society of Bariatic Physicians
- Association of Schools of Public Health
- Association of State & Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors
- Association of State Nutrition Network Administrators
- Audubon California
- Audubon Dakotas
- BJ Enterprises
- B.J. Jordan Child Care Programs
- Bread for the World
- California Association of Food Banks
- Alameda County Community Food Bank
- Food Bank at Contra Costa and Solano Counties
- Redwood Empire Food Bank
- San Francisco Food Bank
- California Association of Nutrition & Activity Programs C-A-N –Act
- California Center for Public Health Advocacy
- California Climate and Agriculture Network
- California Farmers Union
- California Food Policy Advocates
- Camp Fire USA
- Campaign for Better Nutrition
- Campaign to End Obesity
- Catholic Charities USA
- CDI/CDC-Choices for Children
- Center for Rural Affairs
- Center for Environmental Health (CA)
- Center for Science in the Public Interest
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Central Valley Children's Services Network, Child Care Food Program
- Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage
- Child & Family Resources, Inc.
- Child Care Council
- Child Care Development Services, Inc.
- Child Care Food Program Roundtable
- Child Nutrition Initiative
- Child Nutrition Program of Southern California
- Child Welfare League of America
- Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition
- Children First for Oregon
- Children Now
- Children’s Alliance
- Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire
- Children’s Campaign, Inc.
- Children’s Council of San Francisco
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Church Women United of New York
- Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York, Inc.
- Coalition on Human Needs
- Community Action Partnership
- Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CA)
- Community Bridges Child & Adult Care Food Program
- Community CROPS (NE)
- Community Food Security Coalition
- Community Health Partnership: Oregon’s Public Health Institute
- Concord Child Care Center
- Connecticut Farmland Trust
- Connecticut Forest and Parks Association
- Conservation Law Foundation
- Consumer Federation of America
- Contra Costa Child Care Council
- Defenders of Wildlife
- Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
- Directors of Health Promotion and Education
- Early Care and Education Consortium
- Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Environmental Working Group
- Escondido Community Child Development Center
- Family Resource & Referral Center
- Farm Aid
- Farm Fresh Rhode Island
- Feeding America
- First Focus Campaign for Children
- Fixing School Food Alliance Monterey Bay
- Food Bank for Monterey County
- Food for People
- Food Lifeline
- Food Marketing Institute
- Food Research & Action Center
- FoodLink for Tulare County, Inc.
- Foodways Alliance (AZ)
- FRAMAX, CACFP Sponsor
- Go For Health! Collaborative of Santa Cruz County
- Hunger Action Los Angeles
- ICNA Relief
- ICNA Council for Social Justice
- Inter-Faith Ministries
- Interfaith Council of Amador
- International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, AFL-CIO, CLC
- International Institute of Los Angeles
- International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America, (UAW)
- Islamic Circle of North America
- Izaak Walton League of America
- J.C. Family Home Association
- Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- Kansas Action for Children
- Land Stewardship Program
- Land Trust Alliance
- Lawyers Helping Hungry Children
- Lean & Green Kids
- Learning Care Group, Inc.
- Leopold Group, Iowa Sierra Club
- Louisiana Upgrading Nutrition for Children's Health (LUNCH Program)
- Love Little Children, Inc.
- Maine Children’s Alliance
- Mayor Bloomberg, New York
- MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
- Meredith Matthews East Madison YMCA
- Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty
- Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (WI)
- Michigan Land Use Institute
- Michigan’s Children
- Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
- Minute Menu Systems
- Mission: Readiness
- Montana Dietetic Association
- Montana Farmers Union
- Monterey County Office of Education Food & Nutrition Services
- Montgomery Countryside Alliance (MD)
- Montgomery County Community Action Development Commission (PA)
- Mount Adams Resource Stewards (WA)
- National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Association of Conservation Districts
- National Association of County and City Health Officials
- National Association of School Nurses
- National Association of Sport & Physical Education
- National Audubon Society
- National Catholic Rural Life Conference
- National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
- National Center for Appropriate Technology
- National Consumers League
- National Council of Jewish Women
- National Council of La Raza
- National Family Farm Coalition
- National Farm to School Network
- National Farmers Union
- National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
- National Parent Teacher Association
- National Research Center for Women & Families
- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
- National Wildlife Federation
- National WIC Association
- National Women’s Law Center
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Nemours
- New England Farmers Union
- New England Small Farm Institute
- New Mexico Voices for Children
- New York Coalition for Healthy School Food
- New York State Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Alliance
- North Dakota Dietetic Association
- Northeast Organic Farming Association – Connecticut
- Northeast Organic Farming Association – Massachusetts
- Northeast Organic Farming Association – New Hampshire
- Northeast Organic Farming Association – New Jersey
- Northeast Organic Farming Association – New York
- Northeast Organic Farming Association – Vermont
- Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association
- Northwest Harvest
- Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (CA)
- Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
- Ohio Farmers Union
- Oklahoma Composting Council
- Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition
- Oklahoma Institute For Child Advocacy
- Options Child Care Agency
- Oregon Hunger Task Force
- Organic Farming Research Foundation
- Partners for a Healthy Nevada
- Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon
- Partners for Sustainable Pollination
- PATCH, Hawaii
- Pennypack Farm and Education Center (PA)
- Pesticide Watch Education Fund (CA)
- PHFE/Angels Child Care Food Program
- Pollinator Partnership
- Prairie Rivers Network
- Prevention Institute
- Public Health Foundation Enterprises – WIC
- REAP Food Group (WI)
- RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund
- Revolution Foods
- River City Food Bank
- Roots of Change
- Sacramento Hunger Coalition
- St. Joseph’s Family Center
- St. Mary’s Center
- Salt Lake Community Action Program
- Save the Children
- School Nutrition Association
- School’s Out of Washington
- Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy
- Seacoast Eat Local (NH)
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
- Second Harvest Food Bank, Santa Cruz County
- Service Employees International Union
- Shape Up America!
- Share our Strength
- Shasta County Office of Education
- Society for Nutrition Education
- Sodexo Foundation
- South Carolina Wildlife Federation
- South Dakota Voices for Children
- Soyfoods Association of North America
- Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture (NY)
- Sun-Maid Growers of California
- Sunnyvale Community Services
- Sustainable Northwest
- The Alliance to End Hunger
- The Cherokee Nation
- The Nature Conservancy
- The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
- The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (MT)
- Trust for America’s Health
- U.S. Apple Association
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- Union Station Homeless Services
- United Fresh Produce Association
- United Way Silicon Valley
- Utah Farmers Union
- Utahns Against Hunger
- Virginia Association for Biological Farming
- Voice for Utah Children
- Voices For America’s Children
- Voices for Georgia’s Children
- Voices for Illinois Children
- Wallace Center at Winrock International
- Washington Child Nutrition Reauthorization Coalition
- Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network
- Western Region Anti-Hunger Consortium
- WhyHunger
- Wild Friends Program (NM)
- Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
- World Wildlife Fund
- Women, Food and Agriculture Network
- Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
- Your Care Plan
A recent Pew survey shows in 2009, 73 percent of American teens with access to the Internet use social networking websites, up from 65 percent in 2008. The survey also shows that American teens and young adults say the Internet is a central and indispensable element in their lives.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Ensuring Student Cyber Safety”
WHO:
Dr. Phil McGraw, syndicated daytime television talk show host and best-selling author, Hollywood, Calif.
Parry Aftab, Executive Director, WiredSafety, Wyckoff, N.J.
Dominique Napolitano, teen member of Girl Scouts of the USA’s Let Me Know (LMK) program, West Islip, N.Y.
Barbara-Jane Paris, Principal, Canyon Vista Middle School, Austin, Texas
Dr. Jorge Srabstein, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Other Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Thursday, June 24, 2010
10:00 a.m. EDT
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
On Wednesday, June 16, Chairman Miller will urge the Senate to put the 401(k) fee disclosure provision back into H.R. 4213 by delivering pies to each Finance Committee Senator with a slice missing representing the fees Wall Street takes from accountholders.
The 401(k) fee disclosure provisions were part of the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act (H.R. 4213), important legislation that the House of Representatives approved and sent to the Senate on May 28. Last week, Sen. Max Baucus introduced proposed changes to the legislation that included the elimination of the requirement that 401(k)-type plans disclose all fees that participants pay.
On Thursday, June 17, 2010, the Committee will hold a hearing to examine recent reports from the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education looking at how higher education accrediting agencies review institutions’ policies on credit hours and program length.
WHAT:
“Hearing on “The Department of Education Inspector General’s Review of Standards for Program Length in Higher Education”
WHO:
Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Thursday, June 17, 2010
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
Question: How many hearings has the committee held this year on ESEA reauthorization?
Greetings to all EdLabor Insider e-newsletter readers looking for the answer to this week's committee trivia question! (Non-subscribers can click here to subscribe to the Committee's e-mail updates.)
And, drum-roll, please...The full list of hearings held by the Committee in 2010 on ESEA reauthorization is as follows:
Research and Best Practices on Successful School Turnaround
Full Committee Hearing
10:00 AM, May 19, 2010
2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
Supporting America’s Educators: The Importance of Quality Teachers and Leaders
Full Committee Hearing
2:00 PM, May 4, 2010
2175 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC
How Data Can Be Used to Inform Educational Outcomes
Full Committee Hearing
10:00 AM, April 14, 2010
2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization: Addressing the Needs of Diverse Students
Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee Hearing
10:00 AM, March 18, 2010
2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
The Obama Administration’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization Blueprint
Full Committee Hearing
2:40 PM, March 17, 2010
2175 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC
Building a Stronger Economy: Spurring Reform and Innovation In American Education
Full Committee Hearing
9:30 AM, March 3, 2010
2175 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC
H.R. 4330, the All Students Achieving through Reform Act of 2009
Full Committee Hearing
10:00 AM, February 24, 2010
2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
For millions of families, the meals their children receive at school or in child care are their only chance at a healthy meal all day. In 2008, more than 16 million children lived in homes without access to enough nutritious food. America’s children should not have to go hungry – they should have access to healthy foods year round that will help them thrive physically and academically.
We expect children to come to school prepared to learn but hunger and poor nutrition can present major barriers to their success in the classroom. And, since hunger does not take a summer vacation, providing children with year round access to healthier, nutritious foods means children won’t go hungry just because school is out.
The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act (H.R. 5504) will dramatically improve children’s access to nutritious meals, enhance the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, implement new school food safety guidelines and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. (Original bill text)
This new legislation, which was amended and passed by the Committee on July 14, 2010, will answer President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to reduce childhood hunger and support school and community efforts to reduce childhood obesity. (Supporters of H.R. 5504)
Specifically, these new investments in child nutrition will:
- Increase the number of eligible children enrolled in the school lunch programs by using Medicaid/SCHIP data to directly certify children who meet income requirements without requiring individual applications and requiring states to establish and execute a plan to increase rates of direct certification.
- Provide enhanced universal meal access for eligible children in high poverty communities by eliminating paper applications and using census data to determine school wide income eligibility.
- Increase children’s access to healthy school breakfasts by providing competitive grants to school districts to start up or improve their program.
- Ensure fewer children go hungry year round by providing meals for over 225,000 children through seamless meal service for children in school based and community based summer and after-school programs, and in low income rural areas.
- Improve access for children in home-based child care by reducing administrative costs for sponsors of child care meal programs.
- Assist schools in meeting meal requirements proposed by the Institute of Medicine by increasing the reimbursement rate for lunch by 6 cents per meal -- the first real increase in over 30 years.
- Enhance funding for nutrition education in schools to support healthy eating and school wellness.
- Promote stronger collaboration and sharing of nutrition education between child care programs and WIC programs.
- Connect more children to healthy produce from local farms by helping communities establish local farm to school networks, establish school gardens and use more local foods in school cafeterias.
- Leverage public and private partnerships to help reduce childhood hunger and promote community-wide strategies to improve child nutrition and wellness.
- Ensure school meals are safe for all students by extending food safety requirements to all areas in which school food is stored, prepared, and served.
- Support improved communication to speed notification of recalled school foods consistent with GAO recommendations.
- Ensures all foodservice employees have access to food safety training to prevent and identify food borne illness such as through web-based training.
- Increase efficiency, improve program administration, support services and program access and modernize the WIC program by extending period of certification for children, increasing support for breastfeeding, and transitioning from paper food vouchers to an electronic benefit program.
- Strengthen School Meal program integrity and remove program silos in after school meal programs by simplifying program rules and affording schools greater flexibility for addressing program costs.
Supporters of the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act
On Thursday, June 10 at 11:00am Eastern, Chairman George Miller and Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Todd Russell Platts (R-PA) will unveil the details of new legislation to dramatically improve the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, support community efforts to reduce childhood hunger and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools.
The lawmakers will be joined by daytime host, author and child nutrition advocate Rachael Ray and anti-hunger and child nutrition advocates.
The “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act” mirrors key investments proposed by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in her “Let’s Move” initiative, including reducing childhood obesity, improving school wellness, implementing new school food safety guidelines, and supporting public and private partnerships to improve child nutrition.
Specifically, these provisions will:
- Invest the bill’s savings to make college affordable and help more Americans graduate
- Provide reliable, affordable, high-quality Federal student loans for all families
- Meet Pay-As-You-Go fiscally responsible principles and reduce the deficit
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“As the House prepares to vote on the emergency spending bill today, communities across this country are facing an education crisis with hundreds of thousands of teachers at all levels at risk of losing their jobs.The President shares the concern of millions of Americans that cuts to state and local budgets are forcing states and localities to cut education spending drastically, impacting the learning and growth of our nation’s children. While some states may not feel the impact yet, there are thousands of teachers who will receive pink slips in the coming months. The President strongly supports targeted aid focused on preventing these teacher layoffs in order to stem the education crisis.”
The House Appropriations Committee will vote on the legislation later today. [Note: This vote was postponed.]
U.S. Rep. George Miller, chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and a lead champion to help save teacher jobs, applauded the White House for their clear message.
“The President knows the desperate situation in our schools. He knows the cost of inaction for our schools, our teachers, our students, our families and our communities. Today, he’s sent us the clear message that Congress has to act now to help prevent these layoffs that would punish teachers, devastate communities and set back the significant progress out students are making in school. ”
Yesterday, the White House released state-by-state estimates of the number of jobs that will be saved or created through the $23 billion Education Jobs Fund.
View the state-by-state job estimates.
View the White House fact sheet, “Keep Our Teachers Working”
Watch the three part video here.
On ESEA Reauthorization:
"We now have the opportunity to really take that rigid system and make a trade-in, if you will, of some additional flexibility at the local level for outcomes, for results. The Secretary [of Education] has made that clear, the President has made that clear, and I think we've made that clear in the series of hearings that we have held. We'd really like now to put more emphasis on better teachers, more emphasis on better leadership, more emphasis on the use of those resources and the flexible use of those resources, and really put teaching and learning and leadership back into the classroom, back into the local systems, and then stand back and hold them accountable for those--for those results, and we're getting a lot of encouragement as we've held our hearings."
On Higher Education:
"And what we tried to address ... was to see whether or not we could bring down the cost of college for families with an increase in the Pell Grant, by lowering the interest rates on student loans over the next couple of years, and then make it easier for the students and the families to manage that debt that they're required to take out to get the degree that they desire. And one of the ways we do that is we have--we let them have an income determinant payment system. How much you pay every month depends upon how much you're making. So, if you start a career with a low entry wage, you can still have that career and you can manage your payments.
"If you go into public service or you work for a non-profit, if you want to become a nurse, a doctor, a teacher, a prosecutor, a public defender and you're working for a public agency, in ten years, your loans go away, and you never have to pay more than 10--10 percent of your discretionary income to pay that loan back. All of a sudden, people can envision careers that otherwise they couldn't have, where they may really wanted to be a teacher, to be a health nurse, to be a physician's assistant, but they couldn't see how they could balance the pay and the education. We need those people, and so this is really in the public interest.
"We also--when we moved to the direct loan programs, it required the companies bring jobs back to America because they're now managing federal assets when they manage the repayment of these loans, and that requires people--that it be done here in America."
On Bipartisanship:
"There is--clearly, whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, you have a big interest in children. It's about our children, our neighbor's children, our constituents' children, it's about the country, and that passion is on both sides of the aisle, certainly in our Committee."
May 19: Hearing to explore best practices and research on proven models that work to turn around chronically underperforming schools in communities across the country.
May 20: Hearing to examine the prevalence of concussions among high school athletes and how the injury can impact academic achievement.
President Obama said:
And it’s why, through our recovery efforts, we’ve provided emergency aid that saved the jobs of more than 400,000 teachers and other education jobs -– and why I believe these efforts must continue. I believe these efforts must continue as states face severe budget shortfalls that put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk. We need and our children need our teachers in the classroom. We need your passion and your patience, your skill and experience, your determination to reach every single child.The White House says, "Now we need swift, bold action from Congress to respond to state and local budget cuts that are placing public education at risk and endangering teacher jobs. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Harkin and Congressmen Miller and Obey, we have legislation to avert this crisis."
Chairman Miller has been making the case that that additional funding for states is vital to our continued economic expansion. He was a co-sponsor of the Jobs for Main Street Act that passed the House in December and waits on Senate action.
Chairman Miller along with House Democrats and a bipartisan group of mayors are behind the Local Jobs for America Act, authored by Rep. George Miller, that will save and create jobs quickly in both the public and private sectors and help restore vital services that families and local communities rely on.
See the Obama Administration’s letter of strong support to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid on this legislation.
This is a continuation of hearings the committee is holding as part of a bipartisan, transparent effort to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Research and Best Practices on Successful School Turnaround”
WHO:
Susan Bridges, Principal, A.G. Richardson Elementary School, Culpeper, VA
Dr. Thomas Butler, Ph.D., Superintendent, Ridgway Area School District, Ridgway, PA
Jessica Johnson, Chief Program Officer- District and School Improvement Services, Learning Point Associates, Naperville, IL
Dr. Daniel P. King, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, Pharr San-Juan Alamo Independent School District, Pharr, TX
David Silver, Principal, Think College Now Elementary, Oakland, CA
Dr. John Simmons, Ph.D., President, Strategic Learning Initiatives, Chicago, IL
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
WHAT:
Hearing on “The Impact of Concussions on High School Athletes”
WHO:
Gerard A. Gioia, Ph.D., Chief, Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology, Director, Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program, Children’s National Medical Center, Rockville, MD
Linda Kohn, Ph.D., Director, Health Care Issues, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Washington D.C.
Michael Monacelli, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Caledonia-Mumford Central High School, Caledonia, New York
Michelle Pelton, Former High School Athlete, Swansea, MA
WHEN:
Thursday, May 20, 2010
9:00 a.m. EDT (updated May 14)
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
Head Start, a successful early childhood education program, has served more than 25 million children since its inception in 1965. There are over one million children enrolled in Head Start programs across the country.
After learning about the GAO investigation into some Head Start grantees, Chairman Miller wrote a letter to Secretary Sebelius asking her to review the claims of fraud.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Examining GAO's Review of Selected Head Start Grantees”
WHO:
Gregory D. Kutz, Managing Director of Forensic Audits and Special Investigations, GAO, Washington, DC
Carmen R. Nazario, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
1:30 p.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
Norwich, MA Protests the Layoffs of 71 Local Teachers. NBC Connecticut reported, “The board of education says that if the budget remains the same, 71 teachers will lose their jobs, two schools will be closed, and programs like foreign language classes will be canceled. ‘These student’s can’t move any place. They’re stuck here,’ said Bill Young, one of the teacher’s losing his job. We’re going to have less services, and less chances for students to get the education they deserve.’”
Mayor of New York Announces 12,000 Layoffs of City Workers. The New York Times reported, “Under the mayor’s proposal, which covers the fiscal year that starts on July 1, the city would lay off 6,400 teachers and 300 classroom aides. The rest of the city’s work force would shrink by more than 4,000 positions, mostly through attrition. About 50 senior centers and 16 day care centers would be closed.”
City of Las Vegas May Be Forced to Lay Off Hundreds Due to Local Budget Deficit. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, “The city is now looking at a $478 million general fund budget, down from a $493 million tentative budget the City Council has already approved. To meet a shortfall in revenue, the city might draw $48 million from reserves instead of the $38 million already budgeted, with layoffs and program cuts. Plans already call for 146 layoffs, but that number could double, Mayor Oscar Goodman has said.”
Stockton, CA Lays Off 55 Police Officers, Leaving Many in “Layoff Limbo”. The Stockton Record reported, “In May 2009, when the city was projecting a $31 million budget deficit, Brandon Ezell was one of 55 Stockton police officers told that he would be laid off at the end of that June, before the start of the next fiscal year.”
Over 80% of U.S. School Districts Expected to Eliminate Jobs in the 2010-2011 School Year. According to CNN Money, “Based on a survey of school administrators from 49 states, a total of 275,000 education jobs are expected to be cut in 2011, according to the American Association of School Administrators. ‘Faced with continued budgetary constraints, school leaders across the nation are forced to consider an unprecedented level of layoffs that would negatively impact economic recovery and deal a devastating blow to public education,’ said AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech.”
In the New York Times editorial, Saving the Teachers, they say:
Last year’s $100 billion education stimulus plan insulated the public schools from the worst of the recession and saved an estimated 300,000 jobs. With the economy still lagging and states forced to slash their budgets, Congress must act again to prevent a wave of teacher layoffs that could damage the fragile recovery and hobble the school reform effort for years to come.(emphasis added)
In March, Representative George Miller, a Democrat of California, introduced a jobs bill that included a $23 billion school rescue plan. Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat of Iowa, has since introduced a similar plan fashioned as an emergency spending bill. The House version is the better of the two.
The need for a second school stimulus plan was underscored on Monday by a new analysis from the American Association of School Administrators, which reported that cash-strapped districts were prepared to cut as many 275,000 jobs in the 2010-2011 school year.
The loss of that many paychecks — and the resulting decline in consumer spending — could kill off still more jobs in the communities where teachers and other school employees live.
Harold Meyerson wrote about the school recession in the Washington Post:
The worst recession since the 1930s is clobbering the nation's schools.The Local Jobs for America Act allocates $23 billion this year to help states support 250,000 education jobs. And it does a lot more for local communities like funding for firefighters and police.
In Indiana and Arizona, the legislatures have eliminated free all-day kindergarten. In Kansas, some school districts have gone to four-day weeks. In New Jersey, 60 percent of school districts are reducing their course offerings. In Albuquerque, the number of school district employees is down 10 percent. In the D.C. suburbs, Maryland's Prince George's and Virginia's Prince William counties have increased their class sizes.
The American Association of School Administrators recently estimated that budget cuts will leave 275,000 educators out of work in the 2010-11 school year. In addition, Dr. Lawrence Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute estimates that for every 100,000 education jobs lost, 30,000 jobs will be lost in other sectors because of the lost spending by schools and the laid-off educators. A loss of 275,000 education jobs would translate into more than 82,000 job cuts in other industries.
Committee Chairman Miller: “Teacher layoffs threaten our economic recovery and long-term stability at every level. Our teachers can’t afford to lose their jobs, our children can’t afford to lose a year of learning, and our nation can’t afford to stall the progress we’ve made to get our economy back on track.”
Watch Chairman Miller speak about investing in education jobs through the Local Jobs for America Act at a press event:
Local Jobs for America Act can help
The Local Jobs for America Act, introduced earlier this year, would invest $75 billion directly in local communities to save and create jobs in both the public and private sectors and restore vital services that families rely on. The bill also includes an additional $24 billion investment to support 250,000 education-related jobs, including teachers, janitors, cafeteria workers, guidance counselors and principals.
In related news: yesterday, on National Teacher Day, the Committee held a hearing to examine how to best support teachers and leaders in schools. Studies show that teachers are the single most important factor in affecting student achievement.
CNN reports that more than 80% of school districts to cut jobs. According to the article, "a total of 275,000 education jobs are expected to be cut in 2011." The Local Jobs for America Act contains $23 billion this year to help states support 250,000 education jobs. It also contains $75 billion over two years to local communities to hire vital staff, funding for 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions, $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat and $500 million to retain, rehire, and hire firefighters, plus many other benefits.
Read the entire article at CNNMoney.com or after the jump.
UPDATED: The American Association of School Administrators have posted their report. According to the press release, "Cutting 275,000 education jobs would deal a devastating blow to public education and will have a negative effect on economic recovery. Dr. Lawrence Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute told AASA, ‘Every 100,000 education jobs lost will be roughly 30,000 jobs lost in other sectors due to the lost spending by schools and those laid off.’"
More than 80% of U.S. school districts are expected to eliminate jobs and more than half will likely freeze hiring during the upcoming school year, an education organization said Tuesday.
Based on a survey of school administrators from 49 states, a total of 275,000 education jobs are expected to be cut in 2011, according to the American Association of School Administrators.
"Faced with continued budgetary constraints, school leaders across the nation are forced to consider an unprecedented level of layoffs that would negatively impact economic recovery and deal a devastating blow to public education," said AASA Executive Director Dan Domenech.
While the jobs picture begins to stabilize across the broader economy, in its previous survey, the AASA projected job cuts in the education field between 2009 and 2011 to exceed the jobs created by the government in that same period.
In the survey released Tuesday, AASA said job cuts in the 2010 to 2011 school year alone would nearly negate the estimated 300,000 jobs saved or created by the government.
"This survey complements the results of our latest economic impact survey to truly illustrate that schools have yet to feel the economic relief and stability that is appearing in other sectors," said Domenech.
Of the projected job cuts, about 54% are teacher positions, 9% are support personnel, such as nurses and guidance counselors, 5% are administrative and 31% are classified, a category including maintenance employees and cafeteria workers.
The sample of Kindergarten through 12th grade public schools used in the survey accounts for about 11% of the nation's school districts.
And while 48 million students are expected to attend school next year, these significant job cuts are projected to raise the average student-to-teacher ratio from 15:1 to 17:1, AASA said.
For those districts that don't cut jobs, it's likely that they will freeze hiring instead, with 53% of districts projecting that they will not be bringing on new employees in the next school year.
"The envelope arrives with good news. The college is pleased to announce that the student has been offered acceptance and, if he or she is fortunate, some scholarship money.
"But in this busted economy, more parents are saying they need more money and are filing appeals. Then the waiting starts again, for a phone call.
"The job of delivering that news — after weighing hopes and dreams against limited budgets — falls to people like Sandra J. Oliveira, the executive director of the financial aid office at Providence College."
Federal student aid is a key component in enabling many students to pay for college:
"'With the change in circumstance, they may get another $1,000, $2,000 in grant,' she said, using shorthand for a direct scholarship, as opposed to loans. Moreover, the precipitous drop in income will most likely qualify the family for a federal Pell grant, perhaps as much as $5,550."
Just a reminder: the maximum Pell Grant award was increased for the 2010 school year, thanks to the education reconciliation bill President Obama signed into law in March, which invests $36 billion over 10 years to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and to $5,975 by 2017.
The law also makes federal loans more affordable for borrowers to repay by investing $1.5 billion to strengthen an Income-Based Repayment program that currently allows borrowers to cap their monthly federal student loan payments at 15 percent of their discretionary income. These new provisions would lower this monthly cap to just 10 percent for new borrowers after 2014.
This is part of a continued series of hearings the committee is holding as part of a bipartisan, transparent effort to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Supporting America’s Educators: The Importance of Quality Teachers and Leaders”
WHO:
Panel I:
Deborah Ball, Ph.D, Dean, School of Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Pamela S. Salazar, Ed.D Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation Teachers, Washington, DC
Marcus A. Winters, Senior Fellow, The Manhattan Institute, New York, NY
Panel II:
Jeanne Burns, Associate Commissioner of Teacher Education Initiatives, Office of the Governor, Louisiana Board of Regents,
Baton Rouge, LA
Tony Bennett, Superintendent, Indiana Office of Public Instruction, Indianapolis, IN
Monique Burns Thompson, President, Teach Plus in Boston, Boston, MA
John Kaplan, President, Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Marie Parker-McElroy, Instructional Coach, Fairfax County Public Schools, Falls Church, VA
Chris Steinhauser, Superintendent, Long Beach Unified School District, Long Beach, CA
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
2:00 p.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Reforming the Juvenile Justice System to Improve Children’s Lives and Public Safety”
WHO:
Michael Belton, Deputy Director of Juvenile Corrections, Ramsey County, Minnesota
A. Hasan Davis, Deputy Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice
Tracy McClard, mother of a child who committed suicide in an adult jail, Jackson, Missouri
Judge Steven Teske, Juvenile Court, Clayton County, Georgia
John Solberg, Executive Director, Rawhide Boys Ranch, New London, Wisconsin
WHEN:
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
10:00 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
This is part of a series of hearing the committee is holding as part of a bipartisan, transparent effort to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind.
WHAT:
Hearing on “How Data Can Be Used to Inform Educational Outcomes”
WHO:
Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
Beginning July 1, 2010, all Federal student loans will be originated through the Direct Loan program. Students should contact their schools with any questions.
For a 1 year period (July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2011) current students who have FFEL loans with a lender and also have FFEL loans that were sold to the Department of Education, or also have Direct Loans, may choose to consolidate the loans while still enrolled in school into the Direct Loan program. All borrowers may consolidate their loans 6 months after graduating or leaving school, regardless of the date.
Pell Grants
The maximum Pell grant award for the 2010-2011 school year will be $5,550, and increases in the maximum award will be indexed to the cost of inflation beginning in 2013. By 2017, it is expected that the maximum grant will reach $5,975.
Income Based Repayment & Public Service Loan Forgiveness
For current students, anyone with a Federal student loan, and new borrowers between now and June 30, 2014:
The Income Based Repayment option caps student loan payments at 15% of discretionary income (adjusted gross income less 150% of the poverty level based on family size) and remaining balances will be forgiven after 25 years of repayment. (More information on IBR from the U.S. Department of Education.)For NEW borrowers after July 1, 2014 (students who have never taken out a loan before- even if they are going back to college after a time away):
Additionally, those serving in public service or non-profit employment are eligible to have remaining balances forgiven after 10 years of employment in an eligible occupation and repayment. (More information on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program from the U.S. Department of Education.)
The Income Based Repayment option will cap student loan payments at 10% of your discretionary income and remaining balances will be forgiven after 20 years of repayment.
- Increases the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and to $5,975 by 2017. Starting in 2013, the scholarship will be increase with costs of living by linking it to the Consumer Price Index.
About 6 million students received the Pell Grant scholarship in fiscal year 2008.
- Lowers monthly payments on your federal student loans and shortens the debt forgiveness timeline. Starting in 2014, new borrowers who are eligible for Income-Based Repayment will be able to cap their monthly loan payments at just 10 percent of their discretionary income. That cap is currently at 15 percent for eligible borrowers. Additionally, borrowers who responsibly make their monthly payments will see their remaining balance forgiven after 20 years of repayment, reduced from 25 years in current law.
There will be approximately 30 million new student loan borrowers between 2014 and 2020.
Better Opportunities to Prepare for Good Jobs
- Stronger college access and completion programs to help you stay in school and graduate.
- Innovative partnerships between colleges, businesses and job training programs to help you get the real-world experience and skills you need to be ready for the jobs of the future.
Financial Aid Programs That Are Worry-Free and Operate In Your Best Interest
- Gives you the peace of mind of knowing that your federal student loans are stable.
- Removes any potential for conflicts of interest between lenders and colleges.
- Guarantees you the best customer service available when you repay your student loans.
More information on the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
See how SAFRA will benefit students living in each congressional district:
Alabama
- Jo Bonner (AL-1)
- Bobby Bright (AL-2)
- Mike Rogers (AL-3)
- Robert B. Aderholt (AL-4)
- Parker Griffith (AL-5)
- Spencer Bachus (AL-6)
- Artur Davis (AL-7)
Arizona
- Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-1)
- Trent Franks (AZ-2)
- John B. Shadegg (AZ-3)
- Ed Pastor (AZ-4)
- Harry E. Mitchell (AZ-5)
- Jeff Flake (AZ-6)
- Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-7)
- Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8)
- Mike Thompson (CA-1)
- Wally Herger (CA-2)
- Daniel E. Lungren (CA-3)
- Tom McClintock (CA-4)
- Doris O. Matsui (CA-5)
- Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-6)
- George Miller (CA-7)
- Nancy Pelosi (CA-8)
- Barbara Lee (CA-9)
- John Garamendi (CA-10)
- Jerry McNerney (CA-11)
- Jackie Speier (CA-12)
- Fortney Pete Stark (CA-13)
- Anna G. Eshoo (CA-14)
- Michael M. Honda (CA-15)
- Zoe Lofgren (CA-16)
- Sam Farr (CA-17)
- Dennis A. Cardoza (CA-18)
- George Radanovich (CA-19)
- Jim Costa (CA-20)
- Devin Nunes (CA-21)
- Kevin McCarthy (CA-22)
- Lois Capps (CA-23)
- Elton Gallegly (CA-24)
- Howard P. "Buck'' McKeon (CA-25)
- David Dreier (CA-26)
- Brad Sherman (CA-27)
- Howard L. Berman (CA-28)
- Adam B. Schiff (CA-29)
- Henry A. Waxman (CA-30)
- Xavier Becerra (CA-31)
- Judy Chu (CA-32)
- Diane E. Watson (CA-33)
- Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)
- Maxine Waters (CA-35)
- Jane Harman (CA-36)
- Laura Richardson (CA-37)
- Grace F. Napolitano (CA-38)
- Linda T. Sánchez (CA-39)
- Edward R. Royce (CA-40)
- Jerry Lewis (CA-41)
- Gary G. Miller (CA-42)
- Joe Baca (CA-43)
- Ken Calvert (CA-44)
- Mary Bono Mack (CA-45)
- Dana Rohrabacher (CA-46)
- Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)
- John Campbell (CA-48)
- Darrell E. Issa (CA-49)
- Brian P. Bilbray (CA-50)
- Bob Filner (CA-51)
- Duncan Hunter (CA-52)
- Susan A. Davis (CA-53)
- Diana DeGette (CO-1)
- Jared Polis (CO-2)
- John T. Salazar (CO-3)
- Betsy Markey (CO-4)
- Doug Lamborn (CO-5)
- Mike Coffman (CO-6)
- Ed Perlmutter (CO-7)
- John B. Larson (CT-1)
- Joe Courtney (CT-2)
- Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3)
- James A. Himes (CT-4)
- Christopher S. Murphy (CT-5)
- Jeff Miller (FL-1)
- Allen Boyd (FL-2)
- Corrine Brown (FL-3)
- Ander Crenshaw (FL-4)
- Ginny Brown-Waite (FL-5)
- Cliff Stearns (FL-6)
- John L. Mica (FL-7)
- Alan Grayson (FL-8)
- Gus M. Bilirakis (FL-9)
- C. W. Bill Young (FL-10)
- Kathy Castor (FL-11)
- Adam H. Putnam (FL-12)
- Vern Buchanan (FL-13)
- Connie Mack (FL-14)
- Bill Posey (FL-15)
- Thomas J. Rooney (FL-16)
- Kendrick B. Meek (FL-17)
- Ileana Lehtinen (FL-18)
- Vacant (FL-19)
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20)
- Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21)
- Ron Klein (FL-22)
- Alcee L. Hastings (FL-23)
- Suzanne M. Kosmas (FL-24)
- Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
- Jack Kingston (GA-1)
- Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-2)
- Lynn A. Westmoreland (GA-3)
- Henry C. "Hank'' Johnson Jr. (GA-4)
- John Lewis (GA-5)
- Tom Price (GA-6)
- John Linder (GA-7)
- Jim Marshall (GA-8)
- Nathan Deal (GA-9)
- Paul C. Broun (GA-10)
- Phil Gingrey (GA-11)
- John Barrow (GA-12)
- David Scott (GA-13)
Hawaii Idaho Illinois
- Bobby L. Rush (IL-1)
- Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (IL-2)
- Daniel Lipinski (IL-3)
- Luis V. Gutierrez (IL-4)
- Mike Quigley (IL-5)
- Peter J. Roskam (IL-6)
- Danny K. Davis (IL-7)
- Melissa L. Bean (IL-8)
- Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-9)
- Mark Steven Kirk (IL-10)
- Deborah L. Halvorson (IL-11)
- Jerry F. Costello (IL-12)
- Judy Biggert (IL-13)
- Bill Foster (IL-14)
- Timothy V. Johnson (IL-15)
- Donald A. Manzullo (IL-16)
- Phil Hare (IL-17)
- Aaron Schock (IL-18)
- John Shimkus (IL-19)
- Peter J. Visclosky (IN-1)
- Joe Donnelly (IN-2)
- Mark E. Souder (IN-3)
- Steve Buyer (IN-4)
- Dan Burton (IN-5)
- Mike Pence (IN-6)
- André Carson (IN-7)
- Brad Ellsworth (IN-8)
- Baron P. Hill (IN-9)
- Bruce L. Braley (IA-1)
- David Loebsack (IA-2)
- Leonard L. Boswell (IA-3)
- Tom Latham (IA-4)
- Steve King (IA-5)
- Ed Whitfield (KY-1)
- Brett Guthrie (KY-2)
- John A. Yarmuth (KY-3)
- Geoff Davis (KY-4)
- Harold Rogers (KY-5)
- Ben Chandler (KY-6)
- Steve Scalise (LA-1)
- Anh "Joseph'' Cao (LA-2)
- Charlie Melancon (LA-3)
- John Fleming (LA-4)
- Rodney Alexander (LA-5)
- Bill Cassidy (LA-6)
- Charles W. Boustany Jr. (LA-7)
- Frank Kratovil Jr. (MD-1)
- C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-2)
- John P. Sarbanes (MD-3)
- Donna F. Edwards (MD-4)
- Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5)
- Roscoe G. Bartlett (MD-6)
- Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7)
- Chris Van Hollen (MD-8)
- John W. Olver (MA-1)
- Richard E. Neal (MA-2)
- James P. McGovern (MA-3)
- Barney Frank (MA-4)
- Niki Tsongas (MA-5)
- John F. Tierney (MA-6)
- Edward J. Markey (MA-7)
- Michael E. Capuano (MA-8)
- Stephen F. Lynch (MA-9)
- Bill Delahunt (MA-10)
- Bart Stupak (MI-1)
- Peter Hoekstra (MI-2)
- Vernon J. Ehlers (MI-3)
- Dave Camp (MI-4)
- Dale E. Kildee (MI-5)
- Fred Upton (MI-6)
- Mark H. Schauer (MI-7)
- Mike Rogers (MI-8)
- Gary C. Peters (MI-9)
- Candice S. Miller (MI-10)
- Thaddeus G. McCotter (MI-11)
- Sander M. Levin (MI-12)
- Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (MI-13)
- John Conyers Jr. (MI-14)
- John D. Dingell (MI-15)
- Timothy J. Walz (MN-1)
- John Kline (MN-2)
- Erik Paulsen (MN-3)
- Betty McCollum (MN-4)
- Keith Ellison (MN-5)
- Michele Bachmann (MN-6)
- Collin C. Peterson (MN-7)
- James L. Oberstar (MN-8)
- Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-1)
- W. Todd Akin (MO-2)
- Russ Carnahan (MO-3)
- Ike Skelton (MO-4)
- Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5)
- Sam Graves (MO-6)
- Roy Blunt (MO-7)
- Jo Ann Emerson (MO-8)
- Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9)
- Robert E. Andrews (NJ-1)
- Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-2)
- John H. Adler (NJ-3)
- Christopher H. Smith (NJ-4)
- Scott Garrett (NJ-5)
- Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-6)
- Leonard Lance (NJ-7)
- Bill Pascrell Jr. (NJ-8)
- Steven R. Rothman (NJ-9)
- Donald M. Payne (NJ-10)
- Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (NJ-11)
- Rush D. Holt (NJ-12)
- Albio Sires (NJ-13)
- Timothy H. Bishop (NY-1)
- Steve Israel (NY-2)
- Peter T. King (NY-3)
- Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4)
- Gary L. Ackerman (NY-5)
- Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6)
- Joseph Crowley (NY-7)
- Jerrold Nadler (NY-8)
- Anthony D. Weiner (NY-9)
- Edolphus Towns (NY-10)
- Yvette D. Clarke (NY-11)
- Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-12)
- Michael E. McMahon (NY-13)
- Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14)
- Charles B. Rangel (NY-15)
- José E. Serrano (NY-16)
- Eliot L. Engel (NY-17)
- Nita M. Lowey (NY-18)
- John J. Hall (NY-19)
- Scott Murphy (NY-20)
- Paul Tonko (NY-21)
- Maurice D. Hinchey (NY-22)
- Bill Owens (NY-23)
- Michael A. Arcuri (NY-24)
- Daniel B. Maffei (NY-25)
- Christopher John Lee (NY-26)
- Brian Higgins (NY-27)
- Louise McIntosh Slaughter (NY-28)
- Vacant (NY-29)
- G. K. Butterfield (NC-1)
- Bob Etheridge (NC-2)
- Walter B. Jones (NC-3)
- David E. Price (NC-4)
- Virginia Foxx (NC-5)
- Howard Coble (NC-6)
- Mike McIntyre (NC-7)
- Larry Kissell (NC-8)
- Sue Wilkins Myrick (NC-9)
- Patrick T. McHenry (NC-10)
- Heath Shuler (NC-11)
- Melvin L. Watt (NC-12)
- Brad Miller (NC-13)
Ohio
- Steve Driehaus (OH-1)
- Jean Schmidt (OH-2)
- Michael R. Turner (OH-3)
- Jim Jordan (OH-4)
- Robert E. Latta (OH-5)
- Charles A. Wilson (OH-6)
- Steve Austria (OH-7)
- John A. Boehner (OH-8)
- Marcy Kaptur (OH-9)
- Dennis J. Kucinich (OH-10)
- Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11)
- Patrick J. Tiberi (OH-12)
- Betty Sutton (OH-13)
- Steven C. LaTourette (OH-14)
- Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15)
- John A. Boccieri (OH-16)
- Tim Ryan (OH-17)
- Zachary T. Space (OH-18)
- David Wu (OR-1)
- Greg Walden (OR-2)
- Earl Blumenauer (OR-3)
- Peter A. DeFazio (OR-4)
- Kurt Schrader (OR-5)
- Robert A. Brady (PA-1)
- Chaka Fattah (PA-2)
- Kathleen A. Dahlkemper (PA-3)
- Jason Altmire (PA-4)
- Glenn Thompson (PA-5)
- Jim Gerlach (PA-6)
- Joe Sestak (PA-7)
- Patrick J. Murphy (PA-8)
- Bill Shuster (PA-9)
- Christopher P. Carney (PA-10)
- Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11)
- Vacant (PA-12)
- Allyson Y. Schwartz (PA-13)
- Michael F. Doyle (PA-14)
- Charles W. Dent (PA-15)
- Joseph R. Pitts (PA-16)
- Tim Holden (PA-17)
- Tim Murphy (PA-18)
- Todd Russell Platts (PA-19)
Rhode Island South Carolina
- Henry E. Brown Jr. (SC-1)
- Joe Wilson (SC-2)
- J. Gresham Barrett (SC-3)
- Bob Inglis (SC-4)
- John M. Spratt Jr. (SC-5)
- James E. Clyburn (SC-6)
- David P. Roe (TN-1)
- John J. Duncan Jr. (TN-2)
- Zach Wamp (TN-3)
- Lincoln Davis (TN-4)
- Jim Cooper (TN-5)
- Bart Gordon (TN-6)
- Marsha Blackburn (TN-7)
- John S. Tanner (TN-8)
- Steve Cohen (TN-9)
- Louie Gohmert (TX-1)
- Ted Poe (TX-2)
- Sam Johnson (TX-3)
- Ralph M. Hall (TX-4)
- Jeb Hensarling (TX-5)
- Joe Barton (TX-6)
- John Abney Culberson (TX-7)
- Kevin Brady (TX-8)
- Al Green (TX-9)
- Michael T. McCaul (TX-10)
- K. Michael Conaway (TX-11)
- Kay Granger (TX-12)
- Mac Thornberry (TX-13)
- Ron Paul (TX-14)
- Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15)
- Silvestre Reyes (TX-16)
- Chet Edwards (TX-17)
- Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18)
- Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)
- Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20)
- Lamar Smith (TX-21)
- Pete Olson (TX-22)
- Ciro D. Rodriguez (TX-23)
- Kenny Marchant (TX-24)
- Lloyd Doggett (TX-25)
- Michael C. Burgess (TX-26)
- Solomon P. Ortiz (TX-27)
- Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
- Gene Green (TX-29)
- Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30)
- John R. Carter (TX-31)
- Pete Sessions (TX-32)
Utah Vermont Virginia
- Robert J. Wittman (VA-1)
- Glenn C. Nye (VA-2)
- Robert C. "Bobby'' Scott (VA-3)
- J. Randy Forbes (VA-4)
- Thomas S. P. Perriello (VA-5)
- Bob Goodlatte (VA-6)
- Eric Cantor (VA-7)
- James P. Moran (VA-8)
- Rick Boucher (VA-9)
- Frank R. Wolf (VA-10)
- Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11)
- Jay Inslee (WA-1)
- Rick Larsen (WA-2)
- Brian Baird (WA-3)
- Doc Hastings (WA-4)
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5)
- Norman D. Dicks (WA-6)
- Jim McDermott (WA-7)
- David G. Reichert (WA-8)
- Adam Smith (WA-9)
- Paul Ryan (WI-1)
- Tammy Baldwin (WI-2)
- Ron Kind (WI-3)
- Gwen Moore (WI-4)
- F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (WI-5)
- Thomas E. Petri (WI-6)
- David R. Obey (WI-7)
- Steve Kagen (WI-8)
Other Territories
Over the past year of public debate, we’ve heard a lot about what banks think of these reforms. But what about students? They can’t afford powerful PR firms and lobbyists – but there’s a reason students across the country are calling for Congress to pass the bill.
United States Student Association: “Students overwhelmingly support the proposal. So while students invest what little time and resources they have in passing real reform, big banks are pouring millions of dollars into obstructionist lobbying tactics aimed at maintaining a status quo that perpetuates a lending system that has led to the greatest amount of student debt in history. These tactics may have swayed legislators from states with big lending influences, but students have not been fooled.” [Op-Ed: “A New Kind of March Madness,” The Hill, 3/16/10]
Princeton University: “The chief argument in favor of SAFRA is straightforward… Especially in the current economic climate, funds for student aid should be used in as efficient a manner as possible. The redistribution of funds from FFELP to Direct Loans and Pell Grants clearly accomplishes this.” [The Daily Princetonian, 2/17/10]
The University of California, Berkeley: “Cutting out the middle man, in this case the banking industry, could help make a particularly bloated industry more efficient and, along the way, save students and taxpayers some change.” [The Daily Californian, 2/9/10]
University of South Alabama: “Fortunately there’s some long overdue legislation that seeks to alleviate college affordability concerns, easily the most stressful and uncertain element in the pursuit of higher education. In September, the House passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which would provide student loan reform for millions of college students.” [The Vanguard, 2/15/10]
The University of Iowa: “If you’re looking for an above-average job, a high-school diploma is not likely to be sufficient. And a college degree is becoming more expensive by the year. But Obama’s proposals, if adopted, would make college degrees a bit more practical for high-school grads.” [The Daily Iowan, 2/4/10]
New York University: “Why is this legislation so vital? Basically, it cuts out the middleman, saves taxpayer money, and most importantly, it allows more money to go towards Pell grants and affordable loans that would cut away at some of the massive debt faced by so many college graduates.” [NYU Local, 2/5/10]
The University of Maine: “We applaud the representatives who passed what amounts to the largest higher education aid reform bill of our lives.” [Maine Campus, 9/21/10]
College Board: “For the nation to remain competitive globally, and for all citizens to have the ability to achieve the American dream, our education system will need to produce greater numbers of students who earn postsecondary credentials, especially students from groups who have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education” [College Board Letter to Chairman Miller, 7/20/10]
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities: “We are particularly pleased to support the planned increases in the Pell Grant Program, including the assurances of increases to meet the growing cost of living. The Pell program is the single most important program to allow low-income students the opportunity to pursue higher education." [Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Letter to Chairman Miller, 7/20/10]
Campaign for College Affordability: “Millions of students and their families stand to benefit from a number of the provisions in this legislation.” [Campaign for College Affordability Letter to The Education and Labor Committee, 7/21/10
NAACP: “We adamantly support proposals for student aid reform that include tens of billions in increased Pell grant funding. The Pell grant program, established in the early 1970s to ensure that no qualified student was turned away from college due to cost, now helps over 7 million college students, a large portion of whom are first generation, non-traditional and students of color.” [NAACP Letter of Support, 7/20/10]
There will also be three hearings this week on the Protecting America's Workers Act, the administration's ESEA reauthorization blueprint, and addressing the needs of diverse students.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization: Addressing the Needs of Diverse Students”
WHO:
Dr. Daniel Curry, Superintendent, Lake Forest School District, Felton, DE
Dr. Jack Dale, Superintendent, Fairfax County Public Schools, Falls Church, VA
Arelis Diaz, Assistant Superintendent, Godwin Heights Public Schools, Wyoming, MI
Jacqui Farmer Kearns, Ed.D., Principal Investigator, National Alternate Assessment Center, Lexington, KY
Marcus Levings, Chairman, Three Affiliated Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, New Town, ND
Michael T. S. Wotorson, Executive Director, Campaign for High School Equity, Washington, DC
WHEN:
Thursday, March 18, 2010
10:00 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
WHAT:
“The Obama Administration’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization Blueprint”
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
2:30 pm. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
In light of the rising number of girls in the nation’s juvenile justice system, on Thursday, March 11th the House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities will hold a hearing to examine the unique challenges girls face in today’s juvenile justice system as the committee works toward reauthorizing the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act. Among other things, the subcommittee will examine confinement conditions, mental health, victimization, and public safety.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Meeting the Challenges Faced by Girls in the Juvenile Justice System”
WHO:
Professor Francine Sherman
Clinical Professor and Director
Juvenile Rights Advocacy Project
Boston College Law School
Newton, MA
The Honorable J. Brian Huff
Jefferson County, Birmingham, AL
Ms. Rachel Carrion
Community Connections for Youth, Board Member
New York, NY
Professor Linda A. Teplin
Director of the Psycho-legal Studies Program
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Cameron Romer
York County Probation Officer
York, PA
Gary Ivory
Southwest President and National Director of Program Development
Youth Advocate Programs
Harrisburg, PA
WHEN:
Thursday, March 11, 2010
10:30 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
![Thumbnail image for bishop-headshot-square.jpg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/assets_c/2009/05/bishop-headshot-square-thumb-125x125-352-thumb-125x125-353.jpg)
It is clear, however, that merely increasing college access is not sufficient. During my 29 years at Southampton College, I often came across students who were not properly prepared for rigors of college coursework. To remedy this, we must strengthen learning standards not only for the final year of high school but for the preceding years as well. Once students get into college, it is also important that we remove roadblocks that would prevent them from completing their degrees.
This past September, the House passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which addresses both these needs. The bill included $2.5 billion for an initiative called the College Access and Completion fund. This fund will provide grants to states and colleges to increase college access rates as well as completion. Because financial difficulties can delay or prevent graduation for many students, this legislation also makes huge investments in making college more affordable at no new cost to taxpayers. We did this by increasing the maximum Pell Grant, expanding the Perkins loan program and keeping student loan interest rates low. While the Senate has yet to take up this important legislation, I commend the administration for its commitment to signing the legislation into law.
These legislative efforts will go a long way toward enabling students to succeed in their studies and, ultimately, in their careers. Their success is vital to rebuilding the U.S. economy and restoring our competitiveness.
Brooke: So talking about education, we have Josh Levs over at the stimulus desk. Josh, I know you have this first point you want to make about how the stimulus money has affected education jobs in particular.
Josh: When people hear stimulus a lot of think of shovel ready jobs on the street. Education is by far the biggest recipient of jobs from that massive pile of stimulus funding that came out a year ago. Let's do this. I want to see how you can get this information yourself. Show some of it right now. We're going to go to the web cnn.com. What we've got up for you here, we link you to recovery.gov, the main web page that shows people lots of information about the spending. What we've done in here is we've gone to the section called agency reported data. I'll go fast with this, but basically when you look at these words over here, it shows you who gets the most money to go out and spend from the stimulus. Department of Education is way up there. It is the third thing on the whole list. Let's go to the full screen that's going to show the jobs breakdown. Check that out. Stimulus jobs, top agencies no comparison. You have ten times more education jobs that have been funded by the stimulus than those shovel ready jobs on the street, about 410,000 education jobs funded by the stimulus and when it comes to the transportation jobs so far, 41,000. So Brooke, this is a good example of what we've been seeing in this respect. This is place in which a lot of the stimulus money is getting teachers back to work. People can argue about whether this is a good use of public money about, all the debt we're going to pay and all the borrowed dollars but the fact is, right now there have been billions of dollars that have gone into education to pay for teachers to be in schools, Brooke.
Brooke: My mom was a teacher. We need our educators, don't we? Give me an example of how one state was affected by all of this.
Josh: One that's particularly interesting. We often like to look at Michigan because Michigan is by far the most struggling state out there. Michigan has the highest unemployment rate. We know what's been going on with Detroit and in general with this economic slump so much of the country is suffering through. You're seeing right there, Michigan got $2.8 billion for its schools. When we look at the job creation, you've got numbers telling us they have funded more than 9,000 jobs in education from that stimulus money so far. And you know, the stimulus money, most of it still has yet to be spent. We are going to be seeing all over the country more and more examples of teachers being paid for out of that will stimulus pile. Ultimately really, one of the big questions about all this is sure, it's a good use of money. You can often look at funds and say it's good to have teachers in schools.
![mccarthy2-square.jpg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/assets_c/2010/03/mccarthy2-square-thumb-125x125-424.jpg)
As a longtime nurse and the Chairwoman of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, I believe it is important that we examine practices which can help increase access to child nutrition programs and to more healthy foods for our children in schools. Given the current harsh financial realities for many families in my district and throughout the nation, schools have an increasingly important role to play since they provide students with more than 50% of their food and nutrient intake.
We have all told our children that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Studies have proven that we are correct. Unfortunately, less than half of students eligible for school breakfast participate in this important program. Recently, I was lucky enough to visit Powell Lane Elementary school in my district in Westbury, NY and observe their universal school breakfast program. Children there are getting breakfast, and I saw firsthand the increased discipline that each child displayed.
We all know that well-nourished, physically-active children learn better. And we also know that obesity is an epidemic. If we start to educate our kids early enough we can establish lifelong healthy habits and instill the values of healthy living and wellness for the future.
We have our work cut out for us. But by taking a comprehensive approach to nutrition, our children, families and communities will all be healthier.
On Wednesday, March 3, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will appear before the Committee to discuss how strong and innovative education reforms can help rebuild the U.S. economy and restore our competitiveness. Secretary Duncan will discuss President Obama’s education agenda, including his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011, which called for Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act originated in the Education and Labor Committee and was approved by the House in September.
Also on March 3, the Keeping All Students Safe Act is expected to be voted on by the House.
Secretary Duncan will discuss President Obama’s education agenda, including his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011, which called for Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The Education and Labor Committee kicked off its first hearings on ESEA on February 24th, with a hearing on improving access to high quality charter schools. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act originated in the committee and was approved by the House in September.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Building a Stronger Economy: Spurring Reform and Innovation In American Education”
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
9:30 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Improving Children’s Health: Strengthening Federal Nutrition Programs”
WHO:
Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
2:30 p.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.
![polis-square.jpg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/assets_c/2010/02/polis-square-thumb-125x125-420.jpg)
At the Committee’s June hearing on charter schools, members heard about the success of top-performing charter schools emphasizing a rigorous curriculum, high standards and expectations, strong performance-based accountability, and autonomy at turning around student achievement very quickly and effectively. Serving as laboratories of educational innovation, charter schools have pioneered some of the most promising and influential public school reform strategies, such as extended learning time, principal autonomy, data-driven research and instruction, and a laser focus on results.
All-STAR is not about promoting charter schools for the sake of promoting charter schools – it’s about promoting high-quality charter schools serving underserved students. It strengthens accountability and transparency by encouraging new rigorous levels of reporting and oversight for charter school authorizers, including closing bad charter schools and encouraging solid state charter laws. Quality control is the key for ensuring that the charter movement remains a source of successful innovation that adds value to our public school system as it grows.
The bipartisan ALL-STAR Act is supported by several major education and civil rights organizations, including the Citizens’ Commission on Civil Rights, Education Equality Project, United Negro College Fund, National Council of La Raza, Thomas Fordham Foundation, Democrats for Education Reform, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, National Association of Charter School Authorizers, Center for American Progress Action Fund, among others.
Educating every American student to graduate prepared for college and for success in a new workforce is a national imperative. President Obama and Secretary Duncan have embraced public charter schools as one avenue toward achieving this goal. The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act offers a historic opportunity to do the right thing for all of our children. Scaling up outstanding schools’ remarkable success is not a silver bullet for all that ails our education system; however, this proposal represents an important way for more students to achieve educational excellence and success.
- Establishes a new competitive grant program in the Department of Education to enable successful public charter schools that serve at-risk students to replicate, expand and serve more students who are currently in underperforming schools.
- Eligible grantees include School Districts that have or intend to authorize a public charter school, States, Authorized Public Chartering Agencies, and Non-Profit Organizations with a mission and proven track record of success in replicating high-quality charter schools.
- Charter schools are eligible only if they have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) the last two consecutive years or exceeded their state graduation rate (where applicable).
- Encourages new rigorous levels of reporting, oversight and accountability for charter school authorizers, including intervention or closure of low-quality charter schools.
- Allows funds to be used for replication and expansion costs, including:
- Transportation
- Hiring additional staff and teachers
- Special education programs
- Facilities acquisition & development
- Requires that students must be enrolled via a lottery in charters, but also allows expanding schools to matriculate their current students into the new grades.
- Focuses resources on serving those areas most in need by giving priority to eligible entities that serve a large share of low-income students who are enrolled in underperforming schools.
- Gives priority to states that do not have caps restricting the growth of public charter schools and have policies in place that support academically successful charter schools, provide autonomy to schools, promote strong authorizing policies, and ensure quality control through performance-based accountability.
- Focuses resources on replicating the best models of public education by giving priority to top-performing charter schools that:
Source: Rep. Polis
- Have significantly closed the achievement gap and:
- Serve a large percentage of low-income students and rank in at least the top 25th percentile in the State assessment in math and reading or have an average student score on a national exam that is at least in the 60th percentile in reading and at least in the 75th percentile in math; or
- Serve low-income students through a cooperative agreement.
Earlier today, the committee announced plans for a bipartisan, transparent effort to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind.
WHAT:
Hearing on “the All Students Achieving through Reform Act” (the All-STAR Act)
WHO:
Eileen Ahearn, Director, National Association of State Directors of Special Education
Eva Moskowitz, Ph.D, CEO and Founder, Harlem Success Academy
Thomas Hehir, Ed.D, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Robin Lake, Associate Director, Center for Reinventing Public Education, University of Washington
Greg Richmond, President, National Association of Charter School Authorizers
Caprice Young, Ed.D, President, CEO KC Distance Learning, Knowledge Universe
WHEN:
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
10:00 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live.
But not everyone knows what it has done for them or their communities. The Education and Labor Committee has put together a 30-second video to emphasize the benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“A year later, it’s clear that the stimulus package averted tens of thousands of teacher layoffs nationwide, and mitigated deep cuts to school programs.” [Education Week, 1/5/10]
“Public colleges and universities had one of their leanest years on record in 2008-09 and only a $2.4 billion infusion of federal stimulus money staved off fiscal disaster…” [Washington Post, 2/12/10]
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Recovery Act funding saved tens of thousands of public school teacher jobs. “In California, the stimulus was credited with saving or creating 62,000 jobs in public schools and state universities. Utah reported saving about 2,600 teaching jobs. In both states, education jobs represented about two-thirds of the total stimulus job number. Missouri reported more than 8,500 school jobs, Minnesota more than 5,900. In Michigan, where officials said 19,500 jobs have been saved or created, three out of four were in education.” [San Francisco Gate, 10/13/09]
EL PASO, TX: Recovery funding of nearly $1 million for Pell Grants allowed two Anamarc Educational Institute campuses, in El Paso and Santa Teresa, to increase enrollment by over 10% while continuing to offer financial aid to their students. “Last year, 88 percent of Anamarc students were receiving Pell Grants.” [El Paso Times, 11/22/09]
SEATTLE, WA: Recovery dollars will allow 108 more Washington State kids to enroll in Head Start programs. The funding boost will also create 14 new jobs in early education. [Seattle Post Globe, 2/4/10]
LEBANON, PA: Pennsylvania’s Lebanon County schools received 1.5 million in Recovery Act aid, allowing the area to improve special education programs and bolster Title 1 expenditures, a program that helps low-income students improve their math and reading skills. [LD News, 1/30/2010]
WALNUT CREEK, CA: $3.7 million in recovery funds will allow Cal State Long Beach, a California public university, to add about 600 courses in the fall- a move that will restore many cut classes. CSU Chancellor welcomed the aid, saying, "Hopefully this will help to alleviate some of the shortages in classes, and students will be able to make faster progress toward their degree." [Contra Costa Times, 2/8/10]
TRAINING WORKERS FOR CAREERS OF THE FUTURE AND PROVIDING YOUNG AMERICANS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
“The last year has shown — just as economists have long said — that aid to states and cities may be the single most effective form of stimulus.” [New York Times, 2/17/10]
OMAHA, NE: The state of Nebraska was awarded $4.8 million in recovery dollars that will fund “job training in wind energy, biofuels and sustainable, environmentally friendly building technologies”. The money is expected to provide 860 Nebraskans with job training. [Nebraska World Herald, 1/22/10]
LEWES, DE: A Recovery Act grant of over $150,000 saved an endangered Delaware-based Americorps program, the AmeriCorps Youth Conservation Corps. The summer program employs teenagers “to perform maintenance and restoration work” at the treasured Cape Henlopen State Park. [Cape Gazette, 6/25/09]
WHITTIER, CA: California’s Mt. St. Antonio College received $2.2 million in recovery funds “to train more than 100 displaced workers for new jobs” in expanding industries including health care, biotech, green industries, aviation and manufacturing sectors. [Whittier Daily News, 2/12/10]
HACKENSACK, NJ: New Jersey’s Passaic Community College received $4.5 million in Recovery Act funding that will train workers for new positions in health care and education. A local reporter noted, “Local non-profit agencies and hospitals will partner with the college to train people for more specialized health care jobs as part of the program.” [NorthJersey.com, 2/13/10]
HONOLULU, HI: Due to recovery funding, “53 [Hawaii] jobs were created in the AmeriCorps community volunteer program”. [Honolulu Advertiser, 2/2/10]
KETCHUM, ID: The state of Idaho received nearly $6 million in Recovery Act aid to “to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency, renewable energy and other ‘green” occupations. In response to the funding, Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter said, “This grant will give Idaho workers access to training in green industries that will lead to career-path jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy.” [Idaho Mountain Express, 1/26/10]
STATE | FUNDS AWARDED | RECIPIENT-REPORTED JOBS | EDUCATION JOBS |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | $2,879,946,703 | 13,871 | 5,866 |
Alaska | $1,599,388,595 | 1,596 | 268 |
Arizona | $3,392,939,821 | 6,811 | 2,849 |
Arkansas | $1,584,748,636 | 2,829 | 655 |
California | $21,650,138,095 | 71,015 | 49,982 |
Colorado | $3,229,978,450 | 9,407 | 3,900 |
Connecticut | $1,851,708,850 | 7,048 | 3,975 |
Delaware | $720,689,064 | 1,523 | 705 |
District of Columbia | $3,044,036,584 | 3,719 | 661 |
Florida | $9,094,185,017 | 34,966 | 24,055 |
Georgia | $4,861,526,252 | 24,103 | 14,397 |
Hawaii | $1,007,797,512 | 3,014 | 2,083 |
Idaho | $1,858,250,061 | 6,160 | 4,057 |
Illinois | $7,805,527,172 | 11,375 | 2,602 |
Indiana | $4,153,669,041 | 15,278 | 12,046 |
Iowa | $2,059,557,824 | 9,096 | 6,203 |
Kansas | $1,565,844,902 | 6,561 | 3,883 |
Kentucky | $2,511,040,050 | 10,677 | 7,381 |
Louisiana | $2,515,219,042 | 11,322 | 7,023 |
Maine | $889,318,291 | 2,182 | 336 |
Maryland | $4,680,473,252 | 6,759 | 1,467 |
Massachusetts | $4,713,047,794 | 9,261 | 3,215 |
Michigan | $7,319,327,513 | 20,140 | 9,313 |
Minnesota | $2,978,457,783 | 12,291 | 6,952 |
Mississippi | $2,071,100,200 | 3,412 | 602 |
Missouri | $3,390,575,173 | 16,074 | 11,462 |
Montana | $1,162,870,408 | 4,121 | 1,579 |
Nebraska | $1,079,872,241 | 3,849 | 1,703 |
Nevada | $1,427,100,987 | 3,149 | 2,005 |
New Hampshire | $824,716,551 | 1,295 | 261 |
New Jersey | $4,582,612,624 | 21,512 | 15,907 |
New Mexico | $2,223,479,041 | 4,582 | 2,373 |
New York | $12,373,720,643 | 43,061 | 30,157 |
North Carolina | $5,437,207,212 | 26,119 | 19,039 |
North Dakota | $885,135,966 | 2,698 | 1,613 |
Ohio | $6,445,027,536 | 24,705 | 11,881 |
Oklahoma | $2,329,598,907 | 7,999 | 4,903 |
Oregon | $2,241,634,383 | 9,657 | 5,623 |
Pennsylvania | $6,816,672,122 | 12,238 | 2,661 |
Rhode Island | $794,028,907 | 1,345 | 194 |
South Carolina | $5,765,646,903 | 11,024 | 4,947 |
South Dakota | $950,346,898 | 3,244 | 602 |
Tennessee | $5,941,032,774 | 10,259 | 3,749 |
Texas | $12,423,955,147 | 28,460 | 18,577 |
Utah | $1,761,439,655 | 4,740 | 1,955 |
Vermont | $624,753,124 | 1,624 | 294 |
Virginia | $4,319,924,264 | 9,877 | 5,079 |
Washington | $7,867,066,655 | 14,413 | 5,464 |
West Virginia | $1,480,743,335 | 2,195 | 641 |
Wisconsin | $2,948,665,736 | 10,316 | 4,338 |
Wyoming | $562,557,420 | 851 | 18 |
TERRITORY | FUNDS AWARDED | RECIPIENT-REPORTED JOBS | EDUCATION JOBS |
Northern Mariana Islands | $84,398,311 | 138 | 55 |
Puerto Rico | $2,340,754,806 | 14,506 | |
TOTAL | $199,662,327,231 | 599,108 |
Note: “Funds Awarded” includes federal contract, grant, and loan awards for individual states and territories, as reported by prime recipients for the period February 17-December 31, 2009. “Recipient-Reported Jobs”covers the period October 1-December 31, 2009.
Source: recovery.gov
“Education Jobs” are reported from the Department of Education for the period October 1-December 31, 2009, and include jobs such as teachers, principals, librarians, and counselors. Source: Department of Education
The President’s proposed budget includes a request for $49.7 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Education, a $3.5 billion increase from last year’s request. It streamlines programs through consolidation and program elimination with an eye on program effectiveness. Specifically, the President’s budget will:
Transforming elementary and secondary education by introducing positive incentives and rewards to spur reform:
- $1.35 billion to continue the Race to the Top program;
- $500 million for Investing in Innovation;
- $261 million for Research, Development, and Dissemination ($60.5 million increase over FY 2010);
- $65 million for Statewide Data Systems ($6.75 million increase over FY 2010);
- $1.0 billion in contingency funding to support newly reauthorized ESEA initiatives.
Strengthen Teaching and Leadership
Rewarding teacher and principal excellence, including nearly $5 billion for five new programs:
- $3.9 billion for Excellent Instructional Teams programs, which include the following 3 new programs:
- $2.5 billion for Effective Teachers and Leaders State formula Grants;
- $950 million for a competitive Teacher and Leader Innovation Fund program;
- $405 million for a competitive Teacher and Leader Pathways program;
- $1 billion for three new effective teaching initiatives focusing on literacy, STEM and interdisciplinary subjects.
Improve School Climates
Promoting healthier and safer learning environments for students by investing:
- $210 million for Promise Neighborhoods;
- $1.16 billion for 21st Century Community Learning;
- $410 million for Successful, Safe and Healthy Students.
Support Early Learning
Ensuring children continue to have access to early learning opportunities and child care:
- $1 billion for Head Start – allows current levels of services to be maintained;
- $1.6 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grant Program funding an additional 235,000 kids.
Close Achievement Gaps
Supporting high expectations, increased accountability for all students, and the development of high quality standards and assessments:
- $14.5 billion for Title I, part A, renamed College and Career Ready Students;
- $11.8 billion for IDEA, Grants to States, a $250 million increase over the FY 2010 level, excluding ARRA funds, which would maintain the federal contribution for special education at 17 percent;
- $800 million for the English Learner Education, a $50 million increase over FY 2010;
- $445 million for State Assessments, renamed Assessing Achievement, a $39.2 million increase over FY 2010.
Support Higher Education
Increasing access to higher education by increasing the maximum Pell Grant award to $5,710 for the 2010-2011 award and linking future increases of the maximum award to the Consumer Price Index. In addition, proposals to:
- Convert Pell into a mandatory entitlement program;
- Cap payments under Income-Based Repayment at 10 percent of income and forgiving balances after 20 years.
- Reinforce the Administration’s support for SAFRA which includes among other things:
- Elimination of FFEL and a switch to Direct Loans;
- $2.5 billion for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions;
- An expansion of the Perkins Loan program to provide $6 billion in new loan volume;
- $10.6 billion for an investment in community colleges;
- $9.3 billion for an Early Learning Challenge Fund to provide competitive grants to states to improve early learning programs.
On Wednesday, February 10, at 10:00 am eastern, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will appear before the House Education and Labor Committee to discuss how strong and innovative education reforms can help rebuild the U.S. economy and restore our competitiveness.
Secretary Duncan will discuss President Obama’s education agenda, including his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011, which called for Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act originated in the Education and Labor Committee and was approved by the House in September.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Building a Stronger Economy: Spurring Reform and Innovation In American Education”
WHO:
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
WHEN:
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
10:00 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
![courtney photo - square.jpg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/assets_c/2010/02/courtney%20photo%20-%20square-thumb-125x125-413.jpg)
In 2009, the House Committee on Education and Labor, of which I am a member, held hearings on the use of seclusion and restraint. The testimony we heard from various experts was disturbing and signaled that Congress must act expeditiously to end once and for all seclusion and restraint. The most powerful testimony came from parents whose children were killed or severely injured as a result of dangerous restraint techniques.
In response to those stories, and the countless cases in which children have been injured or died, Education and Labor Chairman George Miller introduced the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act. I am a proud cosponsor of this bipartisan bill, which I believe will accomplish a number of important goals.
The proposal wisely bans the use of chemical or mechanical restraint and will prohibit the use of physical restraint or seclusion as a disciplinary measure. As experts throughout the medical and educational field have testified, the use of these harsh methods of controlling a child must never be utilized unless an imminent danger to a child or staff exists. Furthermore, this legislation ensures accountability and transparency, requiring that parents and school officials be notified immediately when an incident occurs. The bill requires data collection when restraint techniques are used to ensure that incidents are recorded and later used to establish best practices. We must continue to promote training for staff, and this valuable information will increase awareness to avoid future tragedies.
Tomorrow, the Committee will consider the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act. I look forward to working with Chairman Miller and my colleagues on the Committee to pass this legislation and to ensure that our schools are safe havens for children and staff.
MYTH: Restraint and seclusion are effective therapeutic interventions that can help students improve behavior.
FACT: No evidence-based research has demonstrated restraint or seclusion to be therapeutically effective in modifying behavior. To the contrary -- research has shown that restraint and seclusion can be physically and psychologically harmful and can even result in more emotional and behavioral disruptions.
MYTH: This legislation doesn’t outright ban seclusion and restraint and therefore won’t be effective.
FACT: It would be naïve to ban all restraint and seclusion – there are rare and extreme emergencies when it may be necessary to physically intervene, but only when administered by properly trained staff and only in situations when a student is posing imminent danger of physical injury to himself or to others.
This bill is consistent with the Children’s Health Act of 2000 and federal protections already in place in other settings. The bill allows physical restraint and seclusion in cases where danger is imminent, when there is no other choice, and only when administered by trained staff. Rather than taking an unrealistic approach, this bill makes a balanced effort to make classrooms safer for kids without taking away necessary emergency interventions from trained staff.
FACT: This bill does not allow the use of physical restraint or seclusion as a planned intervention to be written into any document tied to an individual student. This is also consistent with the Children’s Health Act, which does not allow physicians or medical staff to write restraint or seclusion as a standing order or as an option on ‘as-needed’ basis.
Since restraint and seclusion do not constitute therapeutic programs, treatments or educational services and may actually deny a student access to education, the practices should not be included in an IEP as planned interventions. The bill does allow schools to establish school or classroom plans with appropriate procedures to be followed in a variety of crisis circumstances.
This is an important distinction based upon what the Government Accountability Office (GAO) uncovered. In situations where these planned interventions have been written into IEPs, parents reported that their understanding was incomplete and their consent ultimately resulted in abuse. For example, in one case examined by the GAO, a family consented to their student occasionally being placed in a room to compose himself, when in fact he was being left alone in a locked room for hours at a time. Planning for the use of these procedures often means those interventions are used as a first -- rather than last -- resort.
MYTH: This legislation will allow the federal government to dictate how schools and teachers can discipline their students, and will restrict law enforcement activities in the schools.
FACT: Currently, we have a very weak patchwork of state oversight. In the bill, states have two years to establish their own policies, procedures and enforcement mechanisms that are at least as strong as the minimum federal standards – giving states the flexibility to tailor policies and procedures to meet their needs.
No teacher or school will be told how to discipline their students – this bill simply limits the use of physical interventions to ensure the safety of both students and staff. Additionally, the use of “time out” for calming purposes is specifically protected in the bill. School resource officers would be subject to the same safety standards and training requirements as other school personnel. If the police are called in by a school to handle a dangerous situation, this bill will not interfere with their ability to execute their duties as police officers.
Many educators and school administrators are caring individuals who are working very hard to keep students safe and view this legislation as supporting their efforts. This bill has the support of the National School Boards Association, the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and many other leading education advocates who welcome this opportunity to work together to make schools safer.
MYTH: This bill will mandate that all teachers must undergo a certain type of training.
FACT: The bill doesn’t mandate that all teachers are trained. While no specific number of trained staff is required, states and schools must be able to show that they have an appropriate number of trained personnel given the needs of the specific population of students being served. This maintains local control while improving the safety of all children and staff. States must also plan for how all school staff and parents will be made aware of the requirements surrounding the use of restraint and seclusion.
The bill also leaves it up to individual states to choose or develop acceptable training programs for staff, giving states flexibility and independence to meet their needs, while keeping staff and students safe.
MYTH: There won’t be trained staff available in every circumstance, creating safety problems with violent students.
FACT: There is no one single method that will solve all the challenges our teachers and school staff face in classrooms. It would be unrealistic to think that there will never be emergency situations where an untrained teacher needs to intervene to protect the immediate safety of students.
What this bill does make clear is that untrained staff can only restrain and seclude a child in the case of a clearly unavoidable emergency – and only when trained staff members are not available. Restraint or seclusion must end immediately when the crisis ends. Parents must always be notified. Lastly, states must annually report the number of instances of restraint and seclusion which were imposed by untrained individuals. This will go a long way toward addressing the current safety gaps that have led to too many misuses of restraint and seclusion.
MYTH: This bill imposes more federal regulation where it is not needed.
FACT: This bipartisan legislation takes a balanced approach to address a very serious problem. The Government Accountability Office found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused, and some even died, as a result of misuses of restraint and seclusion in public and private schools, often at the hands of untrained staff. In just two states alone last year, over 33,000 “emergency” interventions were reported.
The fact that this bill is supported by a long list of diverse groups – representing everyone from teachers, school boards, pediatricians, nurses, disability advocates and children’s advocates – shows that these protections for both students and staff are welcomed. We applaud and acknowledge the collaborative and cooperative efforts of everyone involved in crafting this legislation.
A recent investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused, and some even died, as a result of misuses of restraint and seclusion in public and private schools, often at the hands of untrained staff. Unlike in hospitals and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal health funding, there are currently no federal laws addressing restraint and seclusion in schools.
The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247) is the first national effort to address this troubling problem and ensure the safety of everyone involved – both students and school staff. It would establish minimum safety standards in schools and increase transparency, oversight and enforcement to prevent future abuse, among other things.
WHAT:
Full Committee Mark-Up of H.R. 4247 “The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act”
WHEN:
Thursday, February 4, 2009
11:00 a.m. ET
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Toppo reports:
The proposal would rework the way the federal government judges public schools, scrapping a requirement that states increase the percentage of students meeting standards each year, though it allows states to set their own standards.And the Administration has put their money where their mouth is. In the budget, they requested nearly $3 billion dollars in increased resources to help schools meet this higher standards.
In its place, President Obama wants lawmakers to consider rewarding states that show progress toward internationally benchmarked, nationally developed standards.
...
Obama and Arne Duncan, his Education secretary, have long said No Child Left Behind doesn't hold states to high enough standards. On a conference call Monday, Duncan told reporters the law "often does little to reward progress" of schools that help students achieve — and lets states set standards that are too low to allow U.S. children to get into college or compete internationally.
"In too many states, those standards are too low, and the existing law doesn't provide states with incentives to raise their standards," Duncan said. "In fact, quite the opposite is true."
About the budget request, Chairman Miller said:
Learn more about the Elementary and Secondary Act and the President's educational budget proposals.
I applaud the President’s continued funding commitment to early education and our K-12 schools. His budget sends the right message about balancing incentives with resources – spurring major school improvements and providing the resources needed to make them. I agree with his focus on rigorous standards, effective teachers and turning around our lowest performing schools. We will examine these and other key areas as we begin working on a bipartisan rewrite of our federal education laws.
He said: (links added)
There seems to be little to endear citizens to their legislature or to the president trying to influence it. It's too bad, because even with the wrench thrown in by Republican Scott Brown's election in Massachusetts, this Democratic Congress is on a path to become one of the most productive since the Great Society 89th Congress in 1965-66, and Obama already has the most legislative success of any modern president -- and that includes Ronald Reagan and Lyndon Johnson. The deep dysfunction of our politics may have produced public disdain, but it has also delivered record accomplishment.
The productivity began with the stimulus package, which was far more than an injection of $787 billion in government spending to jump-start the ailing economy. More than one-third of it -- $288 billion -- came in the form of tax cuts, making it one of the largest tax cuts in history, with sizable credits for energy conservation and renewable-energy production as well as home-buying and college tuition. The stimulus also promised $19 billion for the critical policy arena of health-information technology, and more than $1 billion to advance research on the effectiveness of health-care treatments.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan has leveraged some of the stimulus money to encourage wide-ranging reform in school districts across the country.
The Education and Labor Committee was vital to the accomplishments of this Congress. In addition to the successes outlined above, the Committee has passed the 401(k) Fair Disclosure for Retirement Security Act, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, and the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. Early in the 2009, President Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, two Committee priorities.
Unfortunately, the economic crisis is not yet over -- there is still more work to be done. The Education and Labor Committee is proud of our accomplishments so far in the 111th Congress, and look forward to continuing the fight for America's middle class in 2010.
The president’s fiscal year 2011 budget, slated to be released Monday, will seek a 6.2 percent increase to the U.S. Department of Education’s budget, including up to $4 billion more for K-12 education. The department’s discretionary budget for fiscal 2010 is roughly $63.7 billion.Chairman Miller said after the speech:
A large piece of the increase, $1.35 billion, would be aimed at extending beyond this year the $4 billion in economic-stimulus program Race to the Top grants and opening up the competition—now limited to states—to school districts. The president highlighted the Race to the Top saying it had “broken through the stalemate between left and right,” and pledged to expand the reform priorities of that competition—among them turning around failing schools and increasing the supply of effective teachers—to all 50 states.
“The idea here is simple,” he said. “Instead of rewarding failure, we only reward success. Instead of funding the status quo, we only invest in reform—reform that raises student achievement, inspires students to excel in math and science, and turns around failing schools that steal the future of too many young Americans, from rural communities to inner cities.”
...
President Obama also called on Congress to pass legislation that would make sweeping changes to the student loan program and redirect money from the projected savings to building new school facilities and bolstering community colleges, early-childhood-education programs, and Pell Grants, which help low-income students pay for college.
“I am especially pleased that President Obama called on Congress to rewrite our nation’s federal education laws. The key to getting this done will be bipartisanship. I plan to begin working on this immediately with this administration, Congressman Kline, our colleagues on the House Education and Labor Committee and all parties that have ideas about how to improve our schools.We encourage you to read the entire Education Week article. Click on the links to learn more about the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Race to the Top, and the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.
“Throughout his speech, President Obama talked about changing the way Washington works. One way we can do just that is by enacting legislation already passed by the House that would invest billions of dollars to help families pay for college – at no cost to taxpayers – by eliminating taxpayer subsidies for student loan middle men. Ending these subsidies will save $87 billion that we can invest directly in our college students and in improving early education and community colleges. It’s a much better use of taxpayer dollars.
Reps. George Miller, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Carolyn McCarthy, Todd Platts
Congressional Black Caucus Education Leadership
Access Living
ADAPT Montana
Advocates for Children of New York (NY, NY)
Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions and Seclusion
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Association on Health and Disability
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
American Counseling Association
American Federation of Teachers
American Group Psychotherapy Association
American Humane
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Autism National Committee
Autism Society
Autism Speaks
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Burton Blatt Institute
California Mental Health Planning Council
Center for Self-Determination
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Coalition for Community Integration
Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth
Community Parent Resource Center of New Mexico (Bernalillo, NM)
Congress of the Statewide Independent Living Councils
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
Council for Exceptional Children
Council for Learning Disabilities
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
Crisis Prevention Institute
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
Division for Learning Disabilities
Easter Seals
Epilepsy Foundation
Families Against Restraint and Seclusion
Families Together, Inc.
Family Alliance to Stop Abuse and Neglect
Family to Family Health Information Center (New Jersey)
Family Voices
Family Voices (New Jersey Chapters)
Family Voices of Tennessee
Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization
Higher Education Consortium for Special Education
JKM Training
Justice for All Action Network
Learning Disabilities Association of America
Little People of America
Maine Parent Federation
Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors
National Association of Private Special Education Centers
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Secondary School Principals
National Association of State Directors of Special Education
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
National Association of the Deaf
National Autism Association
National Center for Environmental Health Strategies
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Coalition of Mental Health Consumers/Survivor Organizations
National Council on Independent Living
National Disability Rights Network
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Down Syndrome Society
National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
National Jewish Council for Disabilities
National Parent Teacher Association
National Rehabilitation Association
National Respite Coalition
National School Boards Association
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
National Youth Leadership Network
New Jersey’s Parent Training and Information Center
New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS)
Non-Abusive Psychological and Physical Intervention
Northwest Arkansas Community Parent Resource Center (Springdale, AR)
Not Dead Yet
PACER Center
Parent to Parent of Georgia (Atlanta, GA)
Pennsylvania TASH
Pyramid Community Parent Resource Center (New Orleans, LA)
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
Respect ABILITY Law Center
School Social Work Association of America
South Dakota Parent Connection (Sioux Falls, SD)
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey (Newark, NJ)
Statewide Parent to Parent (NJ)
TASH
Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children
The Advocacy Institute
The Arc of the United States
The Mandt System, Inc.
Therapeutic Communities of America
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
Tourette Syndrome Association
United Cerebral Palsy
United Spinal Association
U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
Witness Justice
A Top 10 List for Children, Students, Workers and Families
The 111th Congress inherited the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the legacy of eight years of failed Bush economic policies. Over the past year, House Democrats have led an unprecedented effort to prevent a devastating recession from turning into a depression and revive our economy.
The House Education and Labor Committee has been at the center of this effort by working to address the direct concerns of the working Americans feeling the deep pain of this crisis and help rebuild our nation’s middle class. While much more needs to be done, below is an overview of the top ten areas the Committee made progress on in 2009 to improve the lives of children, students, workers and families.
- CREATING JOBS. The Committee helped craft key provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (enacted in February) and the Jobs for Main Street Act (passed House in December) that will help save and create education jobs.
By the numbers: The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ARRA has already helped save or create as many as 1.6 million jobs. Sources estimate 325,000 of the jobs saved were in public education. - PROVIDING ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE. As one of the three House Committees with jurisdiction over health policy, the Committee helped craft and pass the House health insurance reform legislation: the Affordable Health Care for America Act (passed House in October).
By the numbers: the House health reform bill would expand access to quality, affordable health insurance for 96 percent of Americans – or 36 million people. - MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE. The Committee led efforts to provide immediate relief to families squeezed by rising tuition costs in a difficult economy (as part of ARRA), and to make historic investments in college aid at no cost to taxpayers by eliminating student loan middlemen.
By the numbers: The Recovery Act provided an additional $500 boost in the Pell Grant scholarship for the 2010 school year, benefitting up to 7 million students. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (passed House in September) would invest more than $50 billion in student aid over the next 10 years. - EXTENDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNEMPLOYED. The Recovery Act provided workers who have lost their job a 65 percent subsidy toward their COBRA premium for up to 9 months. The House voted to extend this premium assistance for another two months as part of the Department of Defense Appropriation bill passed in December.
By the numbers: The ARRA COBRA subsidy helped about seven million people hold on to health care coverage for themselves or their families while they looked for work. - LAUNCHING A NEW ERA OF PUBLIC SERVICE. The Committee passed and Congress enacted the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (signed in April), a law that triples the current number of volunteers serving in America who can help in our country’s recovery by meeting critical local and national needs in education, health care, energy and care for our veterans.
By the numbers: The Serve America Act also increases the full-time education award service members receive in exchange for their contributions to $5,350 for 2010. - PREPARING WORKERS FOR THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE. The House-passed Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act would invest an unprecedented $10 billion in our nation’s community colleges to prepare students and workers for jobs in high-growth industries.
By the numbers: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that 71 percent of the jobs expected to grow in the next seven years will require a postsecondary credential. Community colleges enroll more than 46 percent of U.S. students. Preliminary data shows community college enrollment increased 10 percent in 2009. - PROTECTING WORKERS FROM WAGE DISCRIMINATION. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, developed by the Committee, was the first major piece of legislation President Obama signed in January. The law overturned a Supreme Court ruling that made it harder for Americans to pursue employer discrimination claims. In January, the House also passed the Paycheck Fairness Act, to end the discriminatory practice of paying men and women unequally for the same job.
By the numbers: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women still only make 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. The Institute of Women’s Policy Research concluded that this wage disparity will cost a woman anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million over her lifetime in lost wages. - STRENGTHENING WORKERS’ RETIREMENT SAVINGS. In June, the Committee passed the 401(k) Fair Disclosure and Retirement Security Act, which would ensure that Americans have clear and complete information about hidden fees that could be eating deeply into their retirement savings.
By the numbers: Roughly 50 million American workers now have 401(k) style retirement plans, but studies show the majority of these workers don’t know how much they are paying in fees. Even just a 1- percentage-point in excessive fees can reduce a worker’s 401(k) account balance by as much as 20 percent or more over a career. - IMPROVING EARLY EDUCATION. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act would also invest an unprecedented $8 billion to help more children reach kindergarten ready to succeed by improving the quality of early education for children from birth through age five, a strategy economists believe is critical to building a skilled workforce and strengthening our global competitiveness.
By the numbers: Today, almost 12 million children under 5 regularly spend time in child care. By age 4, children from low-income families are already 18 months behind their more advantaged peers. Studies show that every $1 dollar invested in early education can yield anywhere from $1.25 to $17 in returns. - RESTORING OUR NATION’S FISCAL HEALTH. The Committee is committed to securing a strong fiscal future for our children by meeting pay-as-you-go budgeting principles. For example, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act is entirely paid for by savings generated through eliminating taxpayer subsidies to lenders and banks in the student loan programs. The Affordable Health Care for America Act is paid for through a combination of savings generated by making Medicare and Medicaid more efficient and revenue generated by placing a surcharge on the wealthiest 0.3 percent of Americans.
By the numbers: The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act would direct $10 billion to the U.S. Treasury to help pay down the deficit. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Affordable Health Care for America Act would reduce the deficit by over $100 billion in the first 10 years and by as much as $650 billion in the second 10 years.
He says:
Under the current FFEL program, banks make loans to students. While those students remain in school, the federal government pays the interest on their loans; otherwise the interest accrues. Once the borrowers leave school or graduate, the lending agency collects on the loans. But if the student defaults, my department pays back the loan—plus the interest owed. The FFEL program, in short, is a great deal for bankers but a terrible one for taxpayers.Secretary Duncan goes on to explain how the Department of Education would originate the loans, but private banks would service them. That is how roughly 80% of student loans are done today. He notes that those colleges who have already moved to the Direct Loan program report that it was quick and easy. With the $87 billion in savings, the reform would substantially increase scholarships in the Pell Grant program and other financial aid for low-income students. Additionally the reforms would start new programs to raise college graduation rates and strengthen our community colleges.
We encourage you to learn more about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act and to read Secretary Duncan's editorial.
According to the Washington Post:
Hundreds of jobs would be eliminated, furloughs would be imposed and student-teacher ratios would increase in many grades under a $1.67 billion budget for 2010-11 proposed by the Prince George's County superintendent Wednesday night.The Jobs for Main Street Act would provide money for teachers and programs within early education, K-12, and higher education. Some money could go toward school facilities. Districts are required to use the funds for compensation and benefits and services related to school modernization, renovation, and repair.
...
The budget calls for $42.5 million less in spending than this year's plan. Although spending would increase for some purposes -- such as the addition of 75 positions to staff four new schools -- the budget contains about $110 million in cuts, including the elimination of 490 positions.
As Alyson Klein at Education Week's blog, Politics K-12, says:
-States can't use education jobs money to replenish their rainy day and reserve funds, directly or indirectly, according to the bill. So no supplanting!Learn more about the Jobs for Main Street Act or watch Chairman Miller's Floor Statement in Support of the Jobs for Main Street Act.
-States can't use any more than 5 percent of the money for administrative purposes, including to retain or create jobs at the state higher education agency.
-There's no governor's fund that can be used for education, but also for public safety and other purposes. It's all education, all the time.
The measure also includes an additional $4.1 billion for school construction bonds. The stimulus had over $20 billion for the bonds, and so far, they have proved very popular.
Supporters of H.R. 4247
Definitions of terms used in H.R. 4247
Every child should be safe and protected while in school. But a recent investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused, and some even died, as a result of misuses of restraint and seclusion in public and private schools, often at the hands of untrained staff. Many of these interventions were used disproportionately on some of our most vulnerable students -- children with disabilities. Unlike in hospitals and other facilities that receive federal funding, there are no federal laws that address how and when restraint or seclusion can be used in schools. State regulations and oversight vary greatly and have often failed to protect children. It is also impossible to determine the full extent to which these interventions are used because there is currently no consistent reporting of data.
H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act (formerly the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act) is the first national effort to address this problem and ensure the safety of everyone involved – both students and school staff. (Bill text ») Specifically the legislation would:
- Allow physical restraint or locked seclusion only when there is imminent danger of injury, and only when imposed by trained staff;
- Prohibit the use of any mechanical restraint, such as strapping children to chairs, misusing therapeutic equipment to punish students, or duct-taping parts of their bodies;
- Prohibit chemical restraint, meaning medications used to control behavior that are not administered consistent with a physician’s prescription;
- Prohibit any restraint that restricts breathing;
- Prohibit aversive behavioral interventions that compromise health and safety, such as denying students water, food, or clothing, denying access to toilet facilities, or using noxious stimuli such as pepper spray in order to control behavior;
- Prohibit schools from including restraint or seclusion as planned interventions in student’s education plans, including Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); and
- Require schools to notify parents after incidents when restraint or seclusion was used.
Require states to do their part to keep children and staff safe in school
- Within two years of the establishment of federal standards, each state must have its own policies, procedures, monitoring and enforcement systems in place to meet the minimum standards.
Ask states to provide support and training to better protect students and staff and prevent the need for emergency behavioral interventions
- Improve the culture and climate of the schools by providing grants to states to help provide professional development, training and positive behavior support programs;
- Encourage schools to have procedures established in school safety plans to keep both students and personnel safe when student behavior poses an imminent danger; and
- Ask states to ensure that enough school staff are trained to keep students and staff safe, but gives states and local districts the flexibility to determine the training needs at each school.
Increase transparency, oversight and enforcement to prevent future abuse
- Require states to collect and report data annually to the Secretary of Education;
- Make data about restraint and seclusion publicly available, including data on the number of incidents, injuries, cases of death, and cases involving untrained staff; and
- Provide the Secretary of Education the authority to withhold federal funds from states who do not establish policies and procedures consistent with the minimum standards.
More About H.R. 4247
- Definitions of terms used in the Keeping All Students Safe Act »
- Read a letter from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to Chairman Miller outlining the administration's principles for seclusion and restraint legislation »
- Read more about a May 2009 committee hearing about seclusion and restraint in schools »
- Watch a video of the press conference where the Keeping All Students Safe Act (formerly the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act) was announced:
TERM | SUMMARY OF DEFINITIONS |
---|---|
School | Public or private early childhood, elementary and secondary schools and school programs that receive support in any form from federal education funds. Head Start programs will also be included. |
Student | A child enrolled in a school as defined in the bill and, in the case of a child enrolled in a private school or private program, who receives support from federal education funds. Includes both students with and without disabilities. |
Mechanical Restraint | (from Public Health Service Act)
The use of devices as a means of restricting a student’s freedom of movement. |
Chemical Restraint | A drug or medication used on a student to control behavior or restrict freedom of movement that is not prescribed by a licensed physician for standard treatment of the student’s medical or psychiatric condition and administered for that purpose as prescribed. |
Physical Restraint | (from Public Health Service Act)
A personal restriction that immobilizes or reduces the ability of an individual to move his or her arms, legs, or head freely. |
Physical Escort | (from Public Health Service Act)
The temporary touching or holding of the hand, wrist, arm, shoulder or back for the purpose of inducing a student who is acting out to walk to a safe location. |
Seclusion | (from Public Health Service Act)
A behavior control technique involving locked isolation, not including a time out. |
Time Out | (from Public Health Service Act)
A behavior management technique that is part of an approved treatment program and may involve the separation of the student from the group, in a non-locked setting, for the purpose of calming. Time out is not seclusion. |
School Personnel | (from Elementary and Secondary Education Act)
Includes teachers, principals, administrators, counselors, social workers, school resource officers, psychologists, nurses, librarians, and other support staff who are employed by a school or who perform services for the school on a contractual basis. |
Physical restraint or seclusion will only be allowed when all the following conditions are met:
- There is imminent danger of physical injury;
- Less invasive interventions wouldn’t work to protect the student or others from injury;
- No mechanical devices are used;
- Staff are trained by a state-approved training program; and
- Staff members are monitoring the student closely.
Physical restraint or seclusion are prohibited when used:
- For discipline or convenience;
- As a therapeutic intervention;
- For any period of time that extends past the threat of imminent danger; and
- By untrained staff, with rare exceptions for unavoidable circumstances, when no trained staff are available and the threat of imminent danger exists.
This legislation is the first national effort to prevent and reduce harmful restraint and seclusion in schools. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office investigation found hundreds of allegations that schoolchildren have been abused, and some even died, as a result of the inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion in classrooms; a disproportionate number of them were children with disabilities. Yet unlike in hospitals, and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal funding, there are currently no federal policies that prevent the misuse of restraint and seclusion in schools. State regulation and oversight varies greatly; many states provide no guidance or assistance regarding these behavioral interventions.
WHO:
U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference
Curt Decker, Executive Director, National Disability Rights Network
Michael A. Resnick, Associate Executive Director, National School Boards Association
Nicole and Alan Holden whose 3-year-old son was repeatedly inappropriately restrained in his public pre-school classroom, Muskegon, MI
Other families of children who have been the victims of harmful restraint and seclusion in classrooms
WHAT:
Press Conference to Introduce Legislation to Prevent Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
WHEN:
Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 11:00AM EST
To watch an archived webcast of the press conference, click here (67.4 MB file)
WHAT:
Full Committee Hearing on “Improving Our Competitiveness: Common Core Education Standards”
WHO:
The Honorable Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of Colorado
Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C.
Doug Kubach, President and CEO, Pearson Assessment and Information, San Antonio, TX
Cathy Allen, Vice Chair for the Board of Education at St. Mary’s County Public Schools, Leonardtown, MD
WHEN:
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
10:00 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website. Access the webcast when the hearing begins »
The National Journal said:
Visit the House Education and Labor Committee and you get a sleek Web site with a legislative calendar, embedded videos, a blog, recent markups and RSS feeds.The Education and Labor website scored 19 out of 20 and was accompanied with this: "Modern layout, colors and style; RSS feeds; social media engagement; multimedia/multiplatform info; social bookmarking; staff directory; and it goes on and on. Really nice site that sets a good standard."
...
The panelists graded committee Web sites for design and content on an ascending scale of 1-10. Sites were ranked based on the average combined scores, out of a possible 20 points.
House committee sites fared better in our review, scoring an average of 12.7 total points, compared to 11.8 total points for Senate sites. The top-rated sites featured legislative calendars, effective use of YouTube and social media, FAQ pages, up-to-date committee news and crisp, clean homepage designs.
See the entire story for the complete listing of all Congressional committees.
The high school dropout crisis poses one of the greatest threats to our nation’s economic growth and competitiveness. Each day 7,000 U.S. students drop out of high school. More than half of all students who drop out are from the so-called “dropout factories” – the 2,000 high schools with dropout rates above 40 percent. Many of these students come from a struggling middle school. President Obama has challenged Congress and the American people to take action by asking every American to commit to at least one year of higher education or training. This will require addressing our nation’s dropout crisis and dramatically improving graduation rates.
The Graduation for All Act (H.R. 4122) will make a down-payment on our future competitiveness by helping our lowest-performing middle and high schools improve student achievement, increase graduation rates, and promote college enrollment. Specifically, the legislation would:
- Creates a new $2 billion competitive grant program to improve nation’s lowest performing high schools and middle schools.
- Provides school districts with clear guidelines on turn around strategies and encourages flexibility in implementing the appropriate model at the school level.
- Supports partnerships among school districts and their lowest
performing high schools, their feeder middle schools and the local
community to help systemically align best practices in turnaround
strategies.
Provide students at risk of dropping out with the tools to stay in school and succeed.
- Combines rigorous coursework with academic and social support services to encourage students and keep them engaged in school.
- Helps schools implement a data system to allow teachers and other
school staff to identify students at risk of dropping out early on,
based on key indicators such as attendance or failing a core course.
Promote college enrollment and career readiness.
- Prepares students for college by providing them with information about financial aid options, developing graduation and career plans and offering classes on a college campus.
- Allows students to earn up to two years of college credit through
Early College High Schools or dual enrollment programs while still in
high school to increase access to college and employment.
How the bill works:
An eligible district who receives a grant must:
- Identify which schools, middle school and high schools, will be redesigned using evidence-based strategies and materials to provide rigorous, relevant curricula and instruction.
- Conduct a needs analysis of a range of factors including graduation rate, capacity, and at-risk students.
- Choose a Model of Success, as defined in the bill, to help make the most effective and appropriate changes in the school. These models range from transformation to restarting the school as a charter.
- Build a Graduation Improvement Team, including school leaders, teachers, experts and other staff from the school and the community to help carry out the Model of Success.
- Implement Early Warning Data Systems to use academic and behavioral indicators to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out, determine which interventions are appropriate, and to monitor the effectiveness of the interventions so that changes can be made as necessary.
- Ensure the principals have autonomy over staffing and budget in their schools.
Support for H.R. 4122:
First Focus Campaign for Children:
"First Focus Campaign for Children is pleased to support the Graduation for All Act. The legislation provides a critical focus on supporting the nation’s middle and high school students. While we understand that this is a work in progress, the legislation includes a comprehensive approach to strengthening student achievement from which we can build. We applaud this effort, and look forward to working with Congress to support the success of the nation’s young people."
National Middle School Association:
"National Middle School Association called on policymakers, educators, and business leaders to lead a national effort to transform middle level education and give every young adolescent the opportunity to achieve to the highest standards. The Graduation for All Act is an essential step in meeting that goal. The legislation calls for the bold actions that are needed turn around our lowest performing middle and high schools and make access to quality education for students a reality, not just a promise."
Democrats for Education Reform:
"Democrats for Education Reform congratulates House Democrats for introducing the 'Graduation for All Act.'
"We particularly want to applaud the leadership of Chairman Miller, and key authors of the bill like Representatives Fattah, Hinojosa, Scott, Griijalva, and Davis for bringing together their ideas and working to create an integrated and comprehensive approach to high school reform.
"'This bill draws some very bright lines for intervening in the nation's 'drop-out' factories and, if necessary, shutting them down so that students can attend schools that will provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college and in the workforce,' said Charles Barone, DFER's Director of Federal Policy. 'We've known for years what the problems are. What the authors of 'Graduation for All' have shown is that they have the political courage to act.'
"'A skilled and educated workforce is absolutely essential to students' futures, and to our nation's economic recovery. We urge Congress to put this bill on the legislative fast track given the dire condition in so many of our nation's high schools which deny millions of students the opportunity to attend college and obtain secure employment that pays a living wage.'"
November 17: Hearing on how employer paid sick leave policies can help slow the spread of contagious diseases, like the H1N1 flu virus.
November 19: Hearing to review current federal literacy initiatives and explore ways to improve the reading comprehension skills of all children from birth through high school.
Note: The previously-scheduled Committee vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act has been postponed.
Cutting out this "unwarranted subsidy," as Obama put it in a speech Monday, would free up almost $90 billion over 10 years. The House would use the largest chunk of that money to raise Pell Grant amounts for low-income college students; the grant amounts have lagged far behind increases in tuition costs.The Education and Labor Committee has been a strong partner with the White House in passing the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act as well as ensuring funding for the Race to the Top.
The money is also directed in other, innovative ways. About $10 billion would go to community colleges -- the biggest infusion of federal cash ever to these institutions.
Colleges would get $2.5 billion to figure out how to keep track of how many students manage to graduate, as opposed to piling up debt and then dropping out. In the House, private colleges were able to wiggle out of this requirement; the Senate ought to hold them to it.
Another $8 billion would go to early childhood education programs, which vary widely in quality, with the goal of establishing some standards and accountability for preschool programs.
Meanwhile, the administration has seized on education funding in the stimulus bill to push its reform agenda. The stimulus included $4.35 billion for competitive grants to states to improve elementary and secondary education -- the largest-ever amount of discretionary federal funding for school reform. The administration's proposed regulations on these Race to the Top funds require that any state wishing to compete for the money must lift restrictions on the number of charter schools and get rid of laws or rules that prohibit linking teacher pay to student performance.
Seven states -- Tennessee, Rhode Island, Indiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Colorado and Illinois -- have revoked their limits on charter schools. The California legislature set aside a 2006 law that prohibited using student performance data to evaluate teachers.
Finally, the appropriations bills moving through Congress would further the reform push. Most important, they would dramatically boost funding -- from $97 million in 2009 to as much as $446 million in 2010 -- to offer higher pay to teachers and principals who improve performance in high-poverty schools.
The USA Today says:
Federal agencies that supply food for 31 million schoolchildren fail to ensure that tainted products are pulled quickly from cafeterias, a federal audit obtained by USA TODAY finds.Chairman Miller said, “Ensuring that all children have access to healthy and nutritious meals during the school day is vital to our efforts to help all children learn and succeed. Every possible effort must be made to make sure that the foods served to our schoolchildren are safe to eat. As we work toward reauthorizing the school meal programs, it is clear that further actions must be taken to strengthen the communications, planning and procedures needed to prevent recalled or contaminated foods from entering our cafeterias.”
The delays raise the risk of children being sickened by contaminated food, according to the audit by Congress' Government Accountability Office.
In recent recalls, including one this year in which salmonella-infected peanut butter sickened almost 700 people, the government failed to disseminate "timely and complete notification about suspect food products provided to schools through the federal commodities program," the audit says.
Such alerts sometimes took more than a week to reach schools, "during which time (schools) unknowingly served affected products."
We recommend you read the entire USA Today article, Democratic lawmakers' statements, and the GAO report.
This afternoon, the House passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (HR 3221) by a vote of 253-171. The bill ensures that higher education is more affordable at no additional expense to taxpayers – in fact, it saves money. More students will go to college, they will graduate with less debt, and the federal loan initiatives that they and their families depend upon will be strengthened for decades to come. The legislation will generate almost $100 billion in savings over the next 10 years that will be used to increase Pell Grant scholarships, keep interest rates on federal loans affordable, and safeguard federal student loan access for families.
Speaker Pelosi:
Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA):
Chairman Miller:
“My colleague on the other side of the aisle said that this legislation is the wrong way and the wrong place to make this investment. He’s got it exactly backwards. This is the exact way to make this investment. To take the savings by cutting the subsidies to the lenders and recycling those on behalf of families and students and our community institutions so that we can expand the educational opportunities in this country. we cannot continue just to wring our hands about our competitive place in the world..we must do something about it.”
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX):
Hinojosa:
“The legislation will increase affordability, accessibility and college completion rates particularly for first generation college low-income, minority and middle-class students. It invests $40 billion to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarships to $5,550 by 2010 and 2019, $6,900 and provides low and middle income families with affordable, direct federal student loans and simplifies the application process for financial aid.”
Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ):
Andrews:
“The issues before the House tonight are these. Do you agree or disagree that the time has come to make college more affordable for men and women around this country by making Pell Grant scholarships more available, student loans less expensive and more available? I think most people would say, yes, we do agree with that.”
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) on the investments the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act makes to community colleges:
Chu:
“As a Professor for over 20 years, I know firsthand how important community colleges are to helping hard working Americans achieve their dreams. About one out of every two college students attends a community college and they are some of the hardest workers I have ever met. My students came from all walks of life - they were immigrants, single moms and laid-off workers and many of the students were the first in their families to go to college. Community colleges are the backbone of our nation’s workforce.”
Chairman Miller responds to criticism of the bill and Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) explains how this legislation reforms student loan practices for the benefit of both the taxpayer and the borrower:
Bishop:
“What we are doing is we are paying private lenders a subsidy so that they will have the privilege of lending federally originated money to their borrowers. We guarantee repayment of that money to the tune of 97% of the amount outstanding and the private lenders reap whatever interest payments are paid by the borrowers. This is a really, really good deal for private lenders. It is a deal that costs the American taxpayer approximately $8 billion to $9 billion a year that we don’t need to spend in that fashion. We can provide, We, the federal government, can provide the loan capital that students need.”
- Invests the bill’s savings in making college affordable and helping more Americans graduate
- Provides reliable, affordable, high-quality Federal student loans for all families
- Prepares students and workers for 21st century jobs by providing all Americans with the skills and resources they need to compete
- Promotes early learning standards reform to ensure the next generation of children enter kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed in school
- Meets Pay-As-You-Go fiscally responsible principles and reduces the deficit
Let us stop here and recall how the current loan system works:
1) Federal government provides private banks with capital.
2) Federal government pays private banks a subsidy to lend that capital to students.
3) Federal government guarantees said loans so the banks don’t have any risk.
And now, the proposed reform:
1) The federal government makes the loans.
....
If it all works out, Congress will have come a way toward fixing this problem, at least when it comes to federally financed student loans. There’s already a new law that forgives part or all of the debt for graduates who go into careers in public service. Terms will be easier for low-income debtors.
The House will vote on the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act today. Stay tuned to our Twitter feed for updates on the debate and the vote.
The New York Times said:
Congress has a chance, starting this week, to end the boondoggle that allows private lenders to earn a handsome subsidy for making risk-free student loans that are guaranteed by the federal government. It’s a wonderful deal for the lenders — and an emphatically bad one for the taxpayers.The Washington Post said:
The House is expected to vote on Thursday on a bill that would simplify the loan system — and save the country nearly $90 billion over the next decade — by ending the subsidy program and allowing students to borrow directly from the government through their colleges and universities. To get this done, however, lawmakers will need to see through the spin and misrepresentations that have become all too common lately.
...
Lawmakers need to put aside all the noise and pass this bill.
EXCEPT FOR a lucky few, paying for college isn't easy. Judging from how long it has taken, neither is reforming how the government provides the loans that make higher education affordable to millions. Yet Wednesday, as the House considers a bill that promises to save taxpayers billions of dollars, it's clear that the right choice is to vote yes.The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act will be considered on the House floor today and tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates.
Historically, the government has kept student-loan interest rates low through two programs: one in which the feds do the lending directly; and one in which the government subsidizes private entities that offer students loans at low, set interest rates. For more than a decade, private lenders fought back attempts to end the expensive subsidy system that kept them profitable at taxpayer expense. Then came the financial crisis, during which the public-private system fell apart, and the election of President Obama, who is intent on getting rid of the private middlemen.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), if the government directly financed all federally sponsored student loans, it would save $80 billion over 10 years. House Democrats have advanced a version of the president's plan that will probably get a vote in the House Thursday; the measure would put those savings into a range of worthy programs, from aid for community colleges to school renovation to larger Pell grants.
Pay heed to local hard-headed law enforcement professionals who deal with the worst that society has to offer on a daily basis.The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act will invest $1 billion each year in competitive grants to challenge states to build comprehensive, high quality early learning systems for children birth to age 5. It will also:
Speaking out in support of increased funding for early childhood education this week were Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady, Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey and his chief deputy Joe Kelly.
"It's a concept that makes complete sense to all of us in this line of work," Kelly said. "The mission is validated by research."
Studies show a return of as much as $13 for every dollar invested in care and learning systems for disadvantaged children, according to Jen Hernandez of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation.
The return comes in the form of savings in the cost of operating the criminal justice system, welfare, schools and other public systems. Research shows that participants in early childhood programs are as much as 29 percent more likely to graduate from high school and 40 percent less likely to repeat grades or be placed in special education.
- Build an effective, qualified, and well-compensated early childhood workforce by supporting more effective providers with degrees in early education and better compensation, and providing sustained, intensive, classroom-focused professional development to improve the knowledge and skills of early childhood providers
- Best practices in the classroom by implementing research-based early learning and development standards aligned with academic content standards for grades K-3.
- Promote parent and family involvement by developing outreach strategies to parents that will help them support their children’s development.
- Fund quality initiatives that improve instructional practices, programmatic practices, and classroom environments that promote school readiness.
- Quality standards reform that moves toward pre-service training requirements for early learning providers, and adoption of developmentally appropriate standards for teacher-child ratios and group size.
"As far as being a bellwether and a potential hot spot for epidemics, schools are probably No. 1 on the list," said Bill Mays, community health director with the Lake County Health Department.According to the CDC, students should:
How schools handle the virus is shaped by health experts. Last spring, when the first cases were diagnosed in the U.S., the federal government urged schools to shut down for up to 14 days if they had a confirmed case. More than 700 schools in the nation closed, including nearly three dozen in the Chicago area.
But schools this year likely will be slower to call off classes, based on new information. The CDC now says schools should be conservative about closing entirely. The agency instead urges parents to check their children each morning for flulike symptoms and keep them home from school if they have a fever.
What's more, the CDC has changed its recommendation about when students can return to class after a bout of swine flu. Previously, it said that students with confirmed cases should stay home for up to seven days. Now it's saying that students can return to class 24 hours after the fever ends.
"We can't stop the tide of flu, but we can reduce the number of people who become very ill by preparing well and acting effectively," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the CDC.
- Stay home when sick: Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs. (Visit for more information)
- Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette: The new recommendations emphasize the importance of the basic foundations of influenza prevention: stay home when sick, wash hands frequently with soap and water when possible, and cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available).
WHAT:
Full Committee Mark-Up of H.R. 2187 “H.R. 3221, The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009”
WHEN:
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
11:00 a.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Education Reconciliation: The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
A Landmark Investment in America’s Economic Future
Now more than ever, Americans need affordable, quality education opportunities to help make our economy strong and competitive again. President Obama has identified an opportunity to make historic investments in our economic future by making college dramatically more affordable – at no cost to taxpayers. (See how SAFRA will benefit students living in each congressional district.)
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was included in the health care reconciliation bill that passed on March 21, 2010 by a vote of 220-211 and signed into law on March 30, 2010, embraces the president’s challenge. It will help us reach his goal of producing the most college graduates by 2020 by making the single largest investment in federal student aid ever. Specifically, these provisions will:
- Invests $36 billion over 10 years to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and to $5,975 by 2017. Starting in 2013, the scholarship will be linked to match rising costs-of-living by indexing it to the Consumer Price Index. This includes an investment of $13.5 billion to fund a shortfall in the Pell Grant scholarship program due to increased demand for the scholarship.
- Invests $750 million to bolster college access and completion support for students. It will increase funding for the College Access Challenge Grant program, and will also fund innovative programs at states and institutions that focus on increasing financial literacy and helping retain and graduate students.
- Makes federal loans more affordable for borrowers to repay by investing $1.5 billion to strengthen an Income-Based Repayment program that currently allows borrowers to cap their monthly federal student loan payments at 15 percent of their discretionary income. These new provisions would lower this monthly cap to just 10 percent for new borrowers after 2014.
- Invests $2.55 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities
and Minority-Serving Institutions to provide students with the support they need to stay in school and
graduate.
- Invests $2 billion in a competitive grant program for community
colleges to develop and improve educational or career training programs.
- Converts all new federal student lending to the stable, effective and cost-efficient Direct Loan program. Beginning July 1, 2010, all new federal student loans will be originated through the Direct Loan program, instead of through the federally-guaranteed student loan program. The Direct Loan program is a more reliable lender for students and more cost-effective for taxpayers.
- Keeps jobs in America. Under the bill, 100 percent of Direct Loans
will be serviced by private lenders. Lenders will compete for contracts to service all federal student loans,
which will guarantee borrowers high quality customer service and preserve jobs. Unlike loans made by banks, Direct
Loans can only be serviced by workers in the U.S. Last year, Sallie Mae was forced to bring 2,000
jobs back to U.S. soil to win a direct loan servicing contract. Sallie Mae is now one of four private banks
servicing 4.4 million direct loans.
- Saves taxpayers $61 billion over the 10 years by switching to the
cheaper Direct Loan program, according to the Congressional Budget Office. In addition to investing in college
aid, these provisions will also reduce the deficit by at least $10 billion over 10 years.
Student Loan Reform: What's In It For You
Myths vs. Facts about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
Support for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
White House Fact Sheets:
Bill Summary: Making College More Affordable
Building American Skills Through Community Colleges
Ensuring That Student Loans Are Affordable
Investing in Pell Grants to Make College Affordable
Create a more reliable, affordable, student-focused federal loan program by switching to all Direct Loans by 2010
- Converts all new federal student lending to the stable, effective and cost-efficient Direct Loan program. Beginning July 1, 2010, all new federal student loans will be originated through the Direct Loan program, instead of through lenders subsidized by taxpayers in the federally-guaranteed student loan program. Unlike the lender-based program, the Direct Loan program is entirely insulated from market swings and can therefore guarantee students access to low-cost federal college loans, in any economy.
- Provides students with low-cost federal college loans with the same interest rates, terms and conditions as loans made by lenders – and the peace of mind of knowing those loans will never disappear. Loans made through both the Direct Loan and the federally-guaranteed student loan programs carry an interest rate of 6.8 percent – a much more affordable interest rate than private loans carry. Under this legislation, federal student loan borrower will be able to borrow the same loans, at the same good rates as before – but these loans will be more cost-effective for taxpayers.
Ensure that all student borrowers can benefit from high-quality, state-of-the-art customer service when repaying their loans
- Upgrades the services all federal student loan borrowers receive. Rather than force private industry out of the system, the bill will forge a new public-private partnership that both maintains jobs and provides all borrowers with the highest-quality customer service when repaying their loans. It will establish a competitive bidding process that allows the U.S. Department of Education to select lenders based on how well they serve borrowers, provide financial literacy counseling, and prevent loan defaults. The legislation will also provide a role for non-profits to continue servicing student loans.
- Preserves servicing jobs in communities across the country. Between this new public-private partnership and the more than $500 billion in outstanding federally-guaranteed student loans that will still need to be serviced, there will be tremendous demand for workers to continue providing great service to Americans repaying their loans.
Streamline financial aid operations for colleges and universities
- College financial aid offices already have the infrastructure in place to administer Direct Loans. Schools will be able to operate these loans using the same on-site system currently used to administer Pell Grant scholarships; almost all schools participate in the program. Colleges and universities that have switched to Direct Loans, including those that converted in the midst of last year’s credit crisis, report that it was a fairly easy and inexpensive process. Currently about 1,700 schools participate in the Direct Loan program, including 500 colleges that switched in the past year alone. Under this bill about 4,500 colleges will need to switch to Direct Loans.
Just this week, President Obama set a new goal of graduating 5 million more Americans from community colleges by 2020. This legislation includes President Obama’s groundbreaking community college reforms that will help reach this goal and prepare students and workers for 21st century jobs by:
Creating a new Community College Challenge Grant Program that will transform community colleges into excellent education and job training centers
- Build a 21st century workforce by encouraging historic partnerships between community colleges, businesses, job training and adult education programs. The bill will create a new competitive grant program for community colleges to improved instruction, work with local employers, improve their student support services, and implement other innovative reforms that will lead to a college degree, certificate or industry-recognized credential to fulfill local workforce needs. The Secretary of Education will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of all programs and policies funded through these grants by using 2 percent of these funds to commission the Institute for Education Sciences to conduct a rigorous study to help the Secretary determine which reforms may be replicated at other colleges and states.
- Incentivize community colleges to achieve excellence by requiring them to meet benchmarks in order to participate in the challenge grant program. Under the program, the Secretaries of Education and Labor will award four-year grants to community colleges and other 2-year degree granting institutions on a competitive basis to support innovative pilot programs and policies. In order to continue to receive funding for year three of the grant period, community colleges must meet benchmarks they set in consultation with the Secretary of Education’s approval. Pilot programs and policies must also demonstrate that they can be replicated either in the state or nationwide. The minimum grant that can be awarded is $1 million. Funds can be used to carry at least two of the following activities:
- Facilitating transfer of credit articulation agreements;
- Expanding academic and training programs that provide relevant job-skill training for high-wage occupations in high-demand industries;
- Improving student support services including those identified under the Workforce Investment Act;
- Creating workforce programs that blend basic skills and occupational training leading to industry-recognized credentials;
- Building and enhancing linkages including dual enrollment programs and early college high schools as well as improving remedial and adult education programs; and
- Implementing reform programs to increase completion rates and provision of training for students to enter high-wage occupations in high-demand industries.
- Ensure that more students graduate with the expertise needed for high wage jobs and high-demand industries. Targets grants to high-need students and programs that focus on preparing students for jobs in fields that need workers and will continue to grow. The Secretaries would also be able to award six-year competitive grants to states to implement successful Challenge Grant Program reforms at other community and junior colleges within the state. Funding could be discontinued if the state does not make progress meeting benchmarks it develops with the Secretary by year three of the grant period.
Expanding access to education by supporting free, high-quality, online training, and high-school and college courses.
- The U.S. Department of Education would be authorized to make competitive grants available to eligible colleges, workforce programs or other entities to help support the development of these courses.
Ensuring that Americans can learn in modern, updated, and state-of-the-art community college facilities.
- Helps community colleges construct, renovate and repair their facilities by providing $2.5 billion, which will leverage additional funds, and ensures that funding is used for facilities that are primarily used for instruction, research, or student housing.
Nearly 12 million children under age 5 regularly spend time in child care arrangements and children with working mothers spend on average 36 hours per week in such settings. But currently federal and state policies for child care leave families with a patchwork system of child care with mediocre quality. Our children deserve and need better. By 4 years old, children from low-income families are already 18 months behind most other 4 year-olds. From the start, education reform should include high quality early learning opportunities from birth through age 5 to help give children what they will need to grow and succeed.
To ensure more kids reach kindergarten ready to succeed, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act includes an Early Learning Challenge Fund to increase the number of low-income children in high quality early learning settings. Specifically, the legislation will:
Invest $1 billion each year in competitive grants to challenge states to build comprehensive, high quality early learning systems for children birth to age 5 that includes:
- Early learning standards reform.
- Evidence-based program quality standards.
- Enhanced program review and monitoring of program quality.
- Comprehensive professional development.
- Coordinated system for facilitating screenings for disability, health, and mental health needs.
- Improved support to parents.
- Process for assessing children’s school readiness.
- Improved data systems to improve child outcomes.
Transform early learning programs by insisting upon real change in state standards and practices:
- Build an effective, qualified, and well-compensated early childhood workforce by supporting more effective providers with degrees in early education and better compensation, and providing sustained, intensive, classroom-focused professional development to improve the knowledge and skills of early childhood providers
- Best practices in the classroom by implementing research-based early learning and development standards aligned with academic content standards for grades K-3.
- Promote parent and family involvement by developing outreach strategies to parents that will help them support their children’s development.
- Fund quality initiatives that improve instructional practices, programmatic practices, and classroom environments that promote school readiness.
- Quality standards reform that moves toward pre-service training requirements for early learning providers, and adoption of developmentally appropriate standards for teacher-child ratios and group size.
- Higher Pell Grant scholarship of $5,550 in 2010 and $6,900 in 2019.
About 6 million students received the Pell Grant scholarship in 2007-2008.
- Lower interest rates on need-based (subsidized) federal student loans.
Nationwide about 5.5 million students borrow these loans each year.
- More access to Perkins loan program by expanding it to every U.S. college campus.
Last year approximately 495,000 students received a Perkins Loan.
- Shorter, simpler FAFSA form that makes applying for financial aid easier.
In 2003-2004, over 1.5 million college students who likely were eligible to receive Pell Grants didn’t apply for financial aid because they found the FAFSA form too confusing.
Better Opportunities to Prepare for Good Jobs
- New college access and completion programs to help you stay in school and graduate.
- Innovative partnerships between colleges, businesses and job training programs to help you get the real-world experience and skills you need to be ready for the jobs of the future.
- Free, high-quality, online training and high school and college courses.
Financial Aid Programs That Are Worry-Free and Operate In Your Best Interest
- Gives you the peace of mind of knowing that your federal student loans are stable.
- Removes any potential for conflicts of interest between lenders and colleges.
- Guarantees you the best customer service available when you repay your student loans.
Here it is in its entirety:
Fix loan system for a stronger future
By: Rep. George Miller
This summer, millions of students will sit down with their families to figure out how to pay for college. They will unwittingly enter into a financial lending system that is badly broken — and not benefiting them as intended.
However, if Congress and President Barack Obama are successful, this system is about to undergo a major change.
The college financing system that was supposed to ensure all students access to college is dangerously out of control, for three reasons.
First, tuition has skyrocketed and shows no signs of abating.
Second, the roller-coaster credit markets have put the federally guaranteed student loan program, which for years has originated almost three-quarters of all federal college loans, on life support.
Over the past three years, the Democratic Congress has made great progress in restoring the scholarship’s purchasing power by increasing it by $1,500. But we’ve got to build on this success if we’re serious about reversing this trend for good.
The student loan market is changing quickly. Even a year ago, families could have confidence that lower-cost federal student loans, whether provided through the government or a private lender, were dependable. Today, it’s a very different story.
Taxpayers pay private companies to make loans, reimburse them if borrowers default and now even fund an emergency mechanism enacted last year to keep them afloat during the credit crisis. In short, taxpayers are pumping billions of dollars into a system that gives lenders all the rewards but none of the risks.
There is good reason that college affordability, next to health care and energy, is one of Obama’s top three domestic priorities.
We must fix this broken system — or risk jeopardizing the educational future of American families and our nation’s competitive future.
Our choice is clear: We can continue funneling taxpayer dollars through boardrooms, or we can start sending them directly to dorm rooms.
Today, after vigorous discussions with all key stakeholders, I am unveiling legislation to create a reliable, affordable and high-quality federal student-aid program that will revive the essential opportunity of a college education for all Americans.
This legislation will meet two crucial goals at once. It will help more students graduate with less debt by dramatically increasing grant aid and stabilizing student loans. And it will do this without costing taxpayers a dime: a pay-as-you-go college aid transformation.
First, this legislation will build on our commitment to strengthening the Pell Grant for low-income students. It will boost the maximum annual scholarship from $5,500 to $6,900 by 2019 by linking it to cost-of-living increases.
Second, it will keep interest rates down on loans for middle-class students. In 2012, interest rates on subsidized federal student loans will increase from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. This bill will make these interest rates variable starting that year, keeping them low and affordable.
Third, it will pay for these investments and insulate all federal student loans from market swings by originating all new loans, starting in 2010, through a more stable option: the Direct Loan Program. Direct lending provides students with the same low-cost loans as lenders but at a fraction of the cost — and without the conflicts of interest that entangled lenders in recent years.
This simple change will save taxpayers almost $90 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The result will be a more dependable, efficient and cost-effective program for families and taxpayers.
Fourth, this bill will upgrade customer services for all federal loan borrowers. Rather than force private industry out of the system, we will forge a new public-private partnership that maintains jobs and provides all borrowers with high-quality services when repaying loans. It will establish a competitive bidding process, allowing lenders and nonprofits to keep doing what they do best: service loans. We’ll harness private-sector innovation for the public good.
Fifth, this legislation will deliver on new initiatives Obama has proposed to prepare students to compete in the jobs of the future. This includes making a game-changing $10 billion investment to turn our community colleges into job training and education vessels that will help drive a strong economic recovery.
Finally, this bill will help build a sound fiscal future for our children by also returning $10 billion to pay down our deficit.
All parents hope their children can receive the best education possible without being crippled by debt. To do this, we must transform our financial aid system from one that benefits banks over students into one that makes paying for college a better deal for families and taxpayers.
Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) is the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.
To find out more about this proposed legislation, visit our blog post about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.
Investing in Students, Not Banks
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act invests billions of dollars in students and families, at no costs to taxpayers. Not surprisingly, critics are using scare tactics to try to mislead the American public about this effort. They’re desperate to preserve the status quo – a system that for too long has favored banks at the expense of students and taxpayers.
It’s ridiculous to argue this is a government takeover, when the federal student loan programs are already a federal program, established and subsidized by the federal government. The Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) is broken and now depends on taxpayer dollars not just for subsidies that reimburse lenders when borrowers default on loans, but also for the capital to finance their lending activity altogether. Taxpayers now fund 8.8 of every 10 dollars in federal student lending activity. They absorb all the risk. There’s simply no reason to keep pumping taxpayer dollars into a broken system when the federal government can provide the same low-cost federal loans more reliably for students and at a lower cost for taxpayers.
MYTH: Lawmakers are trying to sneak student loan reform into reconciliation.
Reconciliation has always been the vehicle for student loan reform. Last year’s House Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2010 included instructions for the House Education and Labor Committee to enact student loan reforms that produce $1 billion in savings to help reduce the deficit over the next five years. The education reconciliation provisions meet that mark: they will reduce the deficit by at least $10 billion over the next 10 years.
MYTH: Cutting lenders out will lead to massive job losses in an already devastated economy.
Actually, this legislation will help keep jobs in America. Under the bill, 100 percent of Direct Loans will be serviced by private lenders, which will guarantee borrowers high-quality customer service and preserve jobs. Unlike loans made by banks, Direct Loans can only be serviced by workers in the U.S. Last year, Sallie Mae was forced to bring 2,000 jobs back to U.S. soil to win a direct loan servicing contract. Sallie Mae is now one of four private banks servicing 4.4 million direct loans. These provisions will ensure that borrowers receive only the best customer service, and jobs will be maintained in communities across the country.
MYTH: This bill will only add to the federal budget deficit at a time when we can least afford it.
Wrong. In addition to increasing grant aid and funding other benefits for students, this bill will reduce the deficit by at least $10 billion over 10 years. It’s an investment in a stronger economy and a stronger fiscal future.
MYTH: Switching to 100 percent Direct Loans would limit customer choice.
Under current law, both the Direct Loan and FFEL programs must lend student loans on virtually the same rates, terms and benefits. In FFEL, students often do not even know who they are borrowing from. Millions of students borrow with one lender only to find that their loan has been sold to a completely different bank.
MYTH: The Education Department borrows money at 2.8 percent from the Treasury and turns around and lends it to students at 6.8 percent. This bill would overcharge students and spend the difference, or “savings,” on new programs.
Under 100 percent Direct Loans, the government will not be “overcharging” student loan borrowers and the government would not make money off of students from this bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would save $61 billion over 10 years by eliminating unnecessary subsidies to banks, not from making money off of student loan interest payments. The $61 billion in savings is what it costs to run the Federal Family Education Loan program, which is a more expensive program than the Direct Loan program because the government currently pays banks more than is required to induce them to lend to student borrowers.
MYTH: The Federal Family Education Loan program promotes competition, which benefits students.
Replacing the FFEL program will create more competition that will result in better customer service for students. The FFEL program has been about entitlements for banks, not competition. Banks get their loan guarantee and interest subsidy entitlements whether they treat students well or not. Under 100 percent Direct Loans, loan servicers compete for Department of Education contracts, and they win them based on what is best for students: good customer service and keeping default rates low.
MYTH: This is nothing but a redistribution of wealth. Why should we finance grant aid increases for the poorest students at the expense of the middle class?
Both low-income and middle-class students will benefit from this legislation. Despite recent investments made by President Obama and Democrats, the Pell Grant scholarship today only covers about 30 percent of average college tuition and fees – down 20 percent from twenty years ago. This legislation will not only make college more affordable for students while they’re in school, but will also help reduce college debt after graduation – a strategy that can help improve purchasing power of the Pell Grant and strengthen our economy over time.
MYTH: Big government is too bureaucratic to run student loans. Services for families will suffer; they may not even get phone calls returned.
The federal government has already proven that it can originate loans more efficiently and reliably than private lenders. Where private lenders have excelled is in servicing loans to students – meaning ensuring that borrowers pay back loans on time, providing financial literacy, and helping prevent loan defaults. That’s why this bill allows private lenders to service 100 percent of all Direct Loans.
MYTH: It will cost colleges and universities already facing deep budget crises millions to switch to direct lending – leading to more tuition hikes for families.
This is nothing more than a myth cooked up by critics to scare colleges; there is simply no evidence to back this up. Colleges and universities that have switched to Direct Loans, including those that converted in the midst of the 2008 credit crisis, report that it was a fairly easy and inexpensive process, in part because schools are able use the same on-site system currently used to administer Pell Grant scholarships. Penn State, for example, did not have to hire extra staff or increase its budget during this switch last spring.
WHAT:
Subcommittee Hearing on “Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying”
WHO:
Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
These benefits were enacted as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, a law I sponsored in 2007 that made historic investments to help more Americans earn a college degree. With the economy against this year’s college graduates, this relief couldn’t come at a better time.
Take for example, a recent graduate with $30,000 in federal student loans and a starting salary of $25,000. Under an Income-Based Repayment plan, this borrower’s monthly loan payment would be reduced to $110 a month – a third of the $345 they would be required to pay under a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Second, the interest rate on subsidized – or need-based – federal student loans also drops today, from 6 percent to 5.6 percent. Anyone taking a loan after today will benefit, meaning that for millions of students and families sitting down to plan for this fall’s expenses, they’ll have a lower, more affordable interest rate locked in for the life of their loan. This is the second annual cut in these interest rates; they will continue to decrease until they reach 3.4 percent in 2011.
Third, our nation’s neediest students will be able to receive a Pell Grant scholarship of $5,350 this fall that will cover a much larger share of their college expenses than year’s past, a $600 increase above last year’s award. A generation ago the Pell Grant covered about half of a student’s tuition expenses; thirty years later, the purchasing power of the scholarship has dramatically declined.
Finally, for the surge of Americans interested in public service, a recently-established program exists to make it easier for workers with hefty debt loans to go into critically-needed, but typically lower-paying fields. Under this public service loan forgiveness program, workers who work in public sector fields – like teaching, nursing, public interest law, non-profit work, and more – will see their federal student loans completely forgiven after 10 years of service and loan repayments.
This good news is long overdue for students, their families – and especially for this year’s graduates.
In previous years, students could borrow for college with the assurance that a steady salary awaited them upon graduation. Unfortunately, in this economy, that same cushion doesn’t exist.
At 2.3 million, the class of 2009 is the largest class to graduate college to date – into the toughest job market for young workers in 25 years. In May, unemployment among 20-24 year olds topped 15 percent – up from 9 percent a year ago. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, just 20 percent of 2009 graduates who applied for a job have one – that’s a thirty percent decrease from two years ago.
These graduates are entering this economy with plenty of financial baggage already in tow. The typical student now borrows about $22,000 in federal and private student loans to pay for college. Many borrowers already spend high percentages of their paychecks making student loan payments, especially in expensive cities across the country, where juggling student loan payments with rent, utility bills and other basic expenses can be daunting.
These new benefits will give borrowers a much-needed lifeboat.
The Income Based Repayment and loan forgiveness programs will alleviate some of the stress working families feel when repaying their loans and will empower Americans to go into critical public service jobs – allowing them to keep their primary focus on their interests, not their outstanding loan balances.
In this economy, every little bit of help counts. For the class of 2009, these benefits may be just the graduation gift they’ve been waiting for.
Created with flickrSLiDR.
WHAT:
Hearing on “The Future of Learning: How Technology is Transforming Public Schools”
WHO:
Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
10:00 a.m., EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Access the webcast when the hearing begins at 10:00 am EDT »
Cut to 2009, when Barack Obama thinks education is the most exciting of subjects. Even so, Obama and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, get Barzun. They understand that the key to fixing education is better teaching, and the key to better teaching is figuring out who can teach and who can't.There are difficulties in implementing the program and Mr. Alter identifies some. The entire article is worth your attention.
...
Like Obama and Duncan, Rep. George Miller, the leading reformer in Congress, wants the money to be targeted on just a few programs with track records in turning around poorly performing schools and training teachers better. He rightly figures we know what works now and should just go ahead and fund it.
President Obama has repeatedly called on states to lift restrictions that limit the growth of successful charter schools and encourage rigorous accountability of them.
WHAT:
Hearing on "Building on What Works at Charter Schools”
WHO:
Steve Barr, founder and chairman of the board, Green Dot Public Schools, Los Angeles, CA
David Dunn, director, Texas Charter School Association, Austin, TX
Jim Goenner, board chair, National Association of Charter School Authorizers and lead authorizer at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
John King, managing director, Excellence Preparatory Network, Uncommon Schools, New York, NY
Barbara O’Brien, Lt. Governor, Colorado
Jim Shelton, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education
WHEN:
Thursday, June 4, 2009
10:00 a.m, EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
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Current statistics on costs at local colleges and universities help explain why this is the case. At Stony Brook University on Long Island, the average debt incurred by 2007 graduates had increased by 9% over the previous year. That’s nearly three times the annual cost of living adjustment. Completing college in New York or any other state is an increasingly expensive proposition: the average student graduates with nearly $22,000 in debt. With the current economic downturn, a college degree may appear even further out of reach for many Americans.
As a former college administrator, I understand the importance of college affordability for American students. I am heartened by the steps that President Obama and my Congressional colleagues have taken to date, including the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This legislation includes billions of dollars to repair and construct school facilities and improve services for the children most in need, which will better prepare our next generation for the challenges of college and the globalized economy.
On July 1st, some new benefits for students will go into effect thanks to the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. On July 1, the interest rate on need-based federal student loans will be reduced to 5.6% down from the current 6% (rates will drop even further to 3.4% by 2011). The maximum Pell Grant scholarship will increase to $5,350 which will reduce the amount that students need to borrow in the first place. In addition, monthly loan payments may be capped at 15% of discretionary income, so student loans will become less of a burden on young people getting started in their careers.
Alex, a student on Long Island who will graduate with a whopping $70,000 in debt, puts it well: “Higher education shouldn’t come at the price of indebtedness for life.”
That’s a goal for our college graduates on which I hope we all can agree.
We can get there by increasing grant aid from all sources (federal, state, and institutional), making it less expensive for students and families to borrow, and working with institutions to implement best practices to hold down costs.
On Wednesday, May 20, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will testify before the House Education and Labor Committee about President Obama’s agenda for transforming American education. This will mark Secretary’s first appearance on Capitol Hill to outline the President’s education goals.
On Thursday, May 21, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine proposals that will make historic increases in college aid by enacting reforms that will make the nation’s federal student loan programs more reliable, effective and efficient for students, families and taxpayers.
One of the proposals the committee will examine is President Obama’s FY 2010 budget proposal, which would increase the Pell Grant scholarship and other forms of student aid by almost $100 billion over ten years – and at no cost to taxpayers. The President’s plan would be paid for by ending the subsidies the federal government currently pays to lenders in the federally-guaranteed student loan programs and re-directing those savings back into additional aid for low- and middle-income students.
One of the proposals the committee will examine is President Obama’s FY 2010 budget proposal, which would increase the Pell Grant scholarship and other forms of student aid by almost $100 billion over ten years – and at no cost to taxpayers. The President’s plan would be paid for by ending the subsidies the federal government currently pays to lenders in the federally-guaranteed student loan programs and re-directing those savings back into additional aid for low- and middle-income students.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Increasing Student Aid through Loan Reform”
WHO:
Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Thursday, May 21, 2009
10:00 a.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
WHAT:
Hearing on “The Obama Administration’s Education Agenda”
WHO:
The Honorable Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
10:00 a.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
WHAT:
Full Committee Hearing on “Examining the Abusive and Deadly Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools”
WHO:
Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
This year’s class of graduating college seniors also enters one of the toughest jobs markets in decades for recent graduates. Of the 1.2 million jobs lost last year, 60 percent were held by workers aged 25 or younger. Their wages may also suffer: Economists have found that workers who graduated during recessions typically earn less over a lifetime than workers who graduate in better economic times. Many borrowers already spend high percentages of their paychecks making student loan payments – and it’s only likely to get worse.
Given these challenges, it’s critical for current college students, new or soon-to-be graduates, and workers to know about new benefits that went into effect July 1, 2009 that will make student loan payments manageable for millions of Americans. (These benefits were signed into law in 2007 as part of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.) They include:
- Cheaper interest rates on need-based (subsidized) federal student loans. On July 1, the interest rates on subsidized federal student loans decreased from 6 percent to 5.6 percent. This is the second of four annual cuts in this interest rate; it will continue to drop until it reaches 3.4 percent in 2011.
- Reasonable and affordable monthly college loan payments for borrowers. On July 1, a new Income-Based Repayment program went into effect that caps borrowers’ monthly loan payments at just 15 percent of their discretionary income (15 percent of what a borrower earns above 150 percent of the poverty level for their family size). Any current or future borrower whose loan payment exceeds 15 percent of their discretionary income is eligible. After 25 years in the program, borrowers’ debts will be completely forgiven.
- Higher Pell Grant scholarships that cover the average tuition at public universities. Due to funding provided by both the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the maximum Pell Grant scholarship for the 2009-2010 school year will be $5,350 – more than $600 above last year’s award.
In addition, students and borrowers will be able to continue to take advantage of other recent programs enacted under the law that will make it easier for graduates to go into public service fields while grappling with student debt. To encourage more students to become teachers, the law provides up-front tuition assistance, known as TEACH Grants, of $4,000 a year – for a maximum of $16,000 – to students who commit to teaching high need subject areas in high need schools for four years after graduation. (These grants first went into effect for the 2008-2009 school year).
Recent surveys also show students’ interest in public service jobs is surging. Graduates who enter into public service careers, such as teachers, public defenders and prosecutors, firefighters, nurses, non-profit workers and more, will be eligible for complete loan forgiveness after 10 years of qualifying public service and loan payments. (This program began on October 1, 2007.)
WHO BENEFITS? A SNAPSHOT…
The interest rate cut…
- Nationwide, about 5.5 million students borrow need-based federal student loans each year. According to the Congressional Research Service, half of these borrowers come from families with incomes between $26,000-68,000.
- About 38 percent of African-American students take out need-based student loans each year.
- About 25 percent of Hispanic students take out need-based student loans each year.
The Income-Based Repayment program…
- While it’s difficult to estimate an approximate number of borrowers who could participate, at the end of 2008, there were almost $556 billion in outstanding federal loans, representing almost 95 million student loans to more than 30 million borrowers. In 2008, about 8.9 million students borrowed federal loans.
The Pell Grant scholarship…
- About 6 million students received the Pell Grant scholarship for the 2007-2008 school year. Of these students, 75 percent had family incomes below $30,000.
- About 47 percent of all African-American students receive Pell Grant scholarships each year.
- About 37 percent of Hispanic students receive the Pell Grant scholarship each year.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR INCOME-BASED REPAYMENT?
- Borrowers who currently are paying back federal student loans and new borrowers, whose debt exceeds 15 percent of their discretionary income. Borrowers with hefty debt loads or low-paying jobs are most likely to qualify.
- The program covers all federal loans – both Direct and Federal Family Education loans – made to students, including Stafford, Grad PLUS and federal consolidation loans, but not those made to parents (PLUS loans). Perkins loans are also eligible if a borrower consolidates them into a FFEL or Direct Loan.
- A borrower must also have enough debt relative to their income to qualify for a reduced payment. If a borrower earns below 150 percent of their poverty level for their family size, their payment will be $0. If they earn above it, their payment will be capped at 15 percent of whatever their income is over that amount.
Below are estimates of the amount of funding that each state and school district would receive to modernize, upgrade and repair school facilities under the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, if it were to be enacted. These are estimates only based on available and current data and may not reflect exact allocations that states or school districts receive when these funds are actually allocated.
Preliminary estimates from the Congressional Research Service (as calculated on May 13, 2009):
Click here to download state-level data (PDF, 10KB) »
Click here to download school district-level data (PDF, 775KB) »
Child nutrition experts across the board agree that childhood obesity poses the greatest threats to the nation’s physical and financial health. Today, one-third of U.S. children and adolescents, about 25 million, are obese or overweight. Child nutrition programs provide children with access to low-cost, nutritious food to support healthy growth and development.
Subcommittee Hearing on “Improving Child Nutrition Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity”
WHO:
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)
U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Michele Paterson, First Lady of New York, New York City & Albany, NY
Nancy Copperman, director, Public Health Initiatives Office of Community Health, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health
System, Great Neck, NY
Dr. Virginia A. Stallings, MD, chair, Institutes of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Nutrition Standards for National School
Lunch and Breakfast Programs
Dr. Patricia Crawford, MD, director, Atkins Center for Weight and Health, Berkeley, CA
Additional Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Thursday, May 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Nationally, only 70 percent of students graduate from high school with a regular high school diploma. Approximately 10 percent of high schools in this country produce close to half of these dropouts. In his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Obama called on lawmakers to address the dropout crisis.
Full Committee Hearing on “America’s Competitiveness through High School Reform”
WHO:
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Robert Balfanz, Ph.D., Research Scientist, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Scott Gordon, CEO, Mastery Charter Schools, Philadelphia, PA
Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO, America’s Promise, Washington, DC
Vicki L. Phillips Ed.D, director of education for the US program, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA
Bob Wise, president, Alliance for Excellent Education, Washington, DC
Michael Wotorson, executive director, Campaign for High School Equity, Washington, DC
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
3:00 p.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
WHAT:
Hearing on “Ensuring Preparedness Against the Flu Virus at School and Work"
WHO:
Jordan Barab, Acting Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, Washington, DC
Ann Brockhaus, Occupational Safety and Health Consultant, ORC Worldwide, Washington, DC
Jack O'Connell, Superintendent of Public Instruction, California Department of Education, Sacramento, CA
Miguel Garcia, Registered Nurse and member, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Los Angeles, CA
Bill Modzeleski, Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, Department of Education, Washington, DC
Dr. Anne Schuchat, Deputy Director for Science and Program (Interim), Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA
WHEN:
Thursday, May 7, 2009
10:00 a.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Hear Chairman Miller talk about the importance of being prepared for a pandemic flu virus at work and school on the Ed show.
The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act could create as many as 136,000 new construction jobs nationwide, according to calculations by the Economic Policy Institute, while boosting student achievement by creating healthier, safer, and energy-efficient learning environments. Studies show there is a correlation between facility quality and student achievement. The legislation also would provide significant aid for Gulf Coast Schools still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
WHAT:
Full Committee Mark-Up of H.R. 2187 “21st Century Green High-Performing Public School”
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
10:00 a.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
School buildings should be safe and healthy learning environments for children. But according to recent estimates, America’s schools are hundreds of billions of dollars short of the funding needed to bring them up to good condition. Research shows a correlation between school facility quality and student achievement. Modernizing school buildings would help revive our economy by creating jobs and preparing workers for the clean energy jobs of the future. And by upgrading school buildings to make them more energy efficient and more reliant on renewable sources of energy, modernized school buildings can also help reduce the emissions that contribute to global warming. Congress already has endorsed these principles by making green school modernization, renovation and repair part an allowable use of funds under the state fiscal stabilization fund in H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Click here to download estimates of the amount of funding that each state and school district would receive under H.R. 2187 if it were to be enacted »
The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act (H.R. 2187), passed by the House on May 14, 2009 by a vote of 275-155, would:
- Authorizes $6.4 billion for school facilities projects for fiscal year 2010, and ensures that school districts will quickly receive funds for school modernization, renovation, and repairs that create healthier, safer, and more energy-efficient teaching and learning climates.
- Allocates the same percentage of funds to school districts that
they receive under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act, except that it guarantees each such district a minimum
of $5,000.
Encourage energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources in schools
- Requires the majority of funds (100 percent by 2015) to be used for projects that meet green building standards.
- Allows states to reserve one percent of funds to administer the program and to develop a plan a statewide database of school facilities, including their modernization and repair needs, energy use, carbon footprints, and an energy efficiency quality plan.
- Requires school districts to publicly report the educational, energy and environmental benefits of projects, how they comply with the green building requirements, and the percentage of funds used for projects at low-income, rural and charter schools.
- Requires the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the
Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, to disseminate best practices in school construction
and to provide technical assistance to states and school districts
regarding best practices.
Provide additional aid to Gulf Coast schools still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- Authorizes separate funds – $600 million over six years – for public schools that were damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many students still attend school in temporary classrooms.
Ensure fair wages and benefits for workers by applying Davis-Bacon protections to all grants for school modernization, renovation, and repair projects
Support for H.R. 2187
American Association of School Administrators »
(PDF, 46KB)
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees »
(PDF, 65KB)
American Federation of Teachers »
(PDF, 73KB)
Council of Educational Facility Planners International »
(PDF, 26KB)
Council of the Great City Schools »
(PDF, 63KB)
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO »
(PDF, 253KB)
National Association of Secondary Schools Principals »
(PDF, 34KB)
National Construction Alliance II »
(PDF, 206KB)
Rebuild America's Schools »
(PDF, 87KB)
U.S. Green Building Council »
(PDF, 37KB)
Other organizations »
(PDF, 54KB)
WHAT:
Hearing on “"New Innovations and Best Practices under the Workforce Investment Act"
WHO:
David Beré, president and chief strategy officer, Dollar General Corporation, Goodlettsville, TN
Kathy Cooper , policy associate, Office of Adult Basic Education, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Olympia, WA
Martin Finsterbusch, executive director, VALUE, Inc. (Voice of Adult Learners United to Educate), Media, PA
Donna Kinerney, Ph.D., instructional dean, Adult ESOL & Literacy Programs, Montgomery College, Wheaton, MD
Roberta Lanterman, program director, Long Beach Family Literacy, Long Beach, CA
Stephen Reder, Ph.D., university professor and chair, Department of Applied Linguistics, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Gretchen Wilson, Grammy winning recording artist and GED graduate, Nashville, TN
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
10:00 a.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
What is the H1N1 Flu?
General information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the H1N1 flu (commonly mis-referred to as "swine flu"), including what the H1N1 flu is, how it spreads and how to take care of people sick with it »
School Preparedness
Checklists and other tools to help schools, child care providers, colleges and universities to delay or reduce the spread of the flu virus »
Workplace Preparedness
Checklists and other guidance for businesses and employers to protect employees' health and safety while limiting negative impacts to the economy and society »
More information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration »
Family Preparedness
Advice and strategies to delay or reduce the spread of the flu virus »
Your Rights in the Workplace
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires public agencies, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and companies with 50 or more employees to provide an eligible employee with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for reasons, including caring for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition, and taking medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.
More about FMLA »
Key measures, many of which the Education and Labor Committee helped enact, have already started improving the quality of life for working families, including:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (signed February 17) will provide immediate relief to students and families working hard to pay for college by:
- Increasing the Pell Grant scholarship by $500. The bill increases the maximum award to $5,350 by next school year and to $5,550 for 2010. About seven million students would benefit from this increase.
- Establishing a new college tuition tax credit of $2,500. The bill establishes a new, partially refundable “American Opportunity” tax credit, expanding access for higher education tax credit to about four million students.
- Creating new work-study opportunities for college students. The
bill invests $200 million in work-study opportunities for college
students in fields related to their major or in community service,
creating jobs for an additional 200,000 students.
RESTORING PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (signed January 29) restores workers’ rights to challenge pay discrimination.
Overturned harmful Bush midnight rule that would have slowed protections for workers from severe lung disease (withdrawn March 17). Under the leadership of the new Administration, OSHA withdrew a last minute Bush era procedural roadblock to that slowed protections for workers who handle the dangerous food flavoring diacetyl. Scientists have linked diacetyl exposure to bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe lung disease often known as “popcorn lung.”
Issued executive orders to restore workers’ rights in federal contracts and establish a Middle Class Task Force (signed January 30, 2009).
LAUNCHING A NEW ERA OF PUBLIC SERVICE
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (signed April 21) expands opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve their nation and communities. It more than triples them number of service opportunities nationwide to 250,000 and increases the full time education award service members receive in exchange for their work to $5,350 for 2010.
EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act helps workers who recently lost a job maintain their health coverage while they look for new employment by making them eligible to receive a 65 percent subsidy towards their COBRA premium for up to nine months.
INVESTING IN 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act invests $105.9 billion in early education, k-12 education, and training to help build the world class education system our economy needs and our children deserve. This plan will make sure that the economic crisis doesn’t compromise the quality of education schoolchildren receive. It also makes progress on key, commonsense reforms, like improving teacher quality, strengthening standards, and establishing data systems that track students’ progress, that are needed to transform our schools.
WHAT:
Full Committee Hearing on “Strengthening America’s Competitiveness through Common Academic Standards”
WHO:
The Honorable James B. Hunt, Jr., Former Governor of North Carolina and Foundation Chair, James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy, Durham, North Carolina
Ken James, Commissioner of Education, Arkansas Department of Education, Little Rock, Arkansas
Greg Jones, Chair, California Business for Excellence in Education (CBEE), Sacramento, California
Dave Levin, Co-Founder, KIPP: Knowledge Is Power Program, New York, New York
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, New York, New York
WHEN:
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
![kildee.jpg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/assets_c/2009/03/kildee-thumb-125x107-315.jpg)
School buildings should be safe, healthy and modern learning environments for children and teachers. By helping school districts to make schools environmentally friendly, or “green,” we can create facilities that have tremendous health, educational, financial and environmental benefits.
In addition to the health and learning benefits, green schools use 33% less energy and 30% less water than a conventional school. On average, this saves the typical green school $100,000 each year in reduced energy and water costs. Green schools also reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions, which helps diminish global climate change and lessen our collective carbon footprint. Additionally, these schools become interactive teaching tools where students see, first-hand, the importance of protecting our planet and build the capacity to solve some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
According to recent estimates, America’s schools are hundreds of billions of dollars short of appropriate facilities funding, and millions of students attend schools that are unhealthy and unsafe. To address these challenges and help to ensure that every child attends a green, high-quality facility, Congressman Ben Chandler (D-KY), Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and I introduced H.R. 3021, “The 21st Century Green High Performing Public School Facilities Act,” in the 110th Congress. This bill, which passed the House last summer, would dedicate billions of dollars to helping school districts implement school facilities projects that meet a recognized green building standard, and it will continue to be a priority for us in this Congress, as well as for Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA), another leader in this effort. Additionally, among “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s” historic investments in education are billions of dollars that school districts can use for such projects, among other uses.
I believe that Congress must be a leader in promoting environmental innovation, especially in helping school districts do so. By helping to create environmentally friendly schools, we can foster a green generation prepared to tackle future challenges. I hope you will join with me this Earth Day to support healthy, high-performing, green schools.
Today, President Obama is scheduled to sign the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law. This week is also National Volunteer Week (April 19-25).
The idea is to capitalize on the local history of activism and volunteerism and channel New Yorkers’ goodwill into worthy causes that could make a palpable difference in these difficult economic times. One of the initiatives, for example, will create the NYC Civic Corps, which will shepherd volunteers into public agencies and nonprofit groups. Others will expand the city’s auxiliary police force and Block Watch programs, as well as offer legal service and financial counseling to families who are facing foreclosure or otherwise need help managing their debt.Read the rest of The New York Times blog post here.
The Associated Press and The Washington Post also reported on Mayor Bloomberg's service program.
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000 – more than triple the current 75,000. These new service opportunities will include the expansion of existing service programs, like AmeriCorps, as well as four new service corps focused on education, health care, energy and veterans. All service programs established under the bill will be overseen by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Chairmen Miller, McCarthy Join President Obama at Signing Ceremony for Landmark National Service Bill
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
4:00 p.m., EDT
WHERE:
The SEED School
4300 C Street SE
Washington, D.C.
This proposal would not threaten private lenders' ability to make private loans to college students at unregulated (and often highly profitable) interest rates. It would simply allow the federal government to keep the profits from loans it already subsidizes, instead of handing them over to banks. It would improve efficiency and save money, and it should have been passed a long time ago.
And there is more at the San Francisco Chronicle and we encourage you to read the entire editorial.
To learn more about where Chairman Miller stands on this proposal, see his statement on President Obama's budget.
Private companies that reap undeserved profits from the federal student-loan program are gearing up to kill a White House plan that would get them off the dole and redirect the savings to federal scholarships for the needy. Instead of knuckling under to the powerful lending lobby, as it has so often done in the past, Congress needs to finally put the taxpayers’ interests first. That means embracing President Obama’s plan.
This builds upon Rep. Miller and the Education and Labor Committee's efforts in the 110th Congress.
We encourage you to read the entire editorial. And these from the Syracuse Post-Standard and the Albany Times Union.
![elem-kids.jpg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/assets_c/2009/03/elem-kids-thumb-125x124-320.jpg)
In addition to the Title I and IDEA investments, the economic recovery plan also created a $54 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to help stabilize state and local budgets and restore harmful cuts to education. The Obama administration also issued guidelines to clarify how the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund can be used by local districts and colleges. States can apply for this funding beginning on April 1, 2009. More »
Department of Education Guidance:
(April 1, 2009) Guidance on the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund »
(April 1, 2009) Guidance on Title I, Part A »
(April 1, 2009) Guidance on IDEA, Part B »
(April 1, 2009) Guidance on IDEA, Part C »
(For Department of Education guidance on all Recovery Act funds, click here.)
(For estimates of the amount of education funding each state and school district will receive from certain aspects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, click here.)
President Obama has called on Congress to create new service and volunteer opportunities for Americans that will help to build a stronger country. This legislation answers his call. It will launch a new era of service that will give Americans of all ages the opportunity to help our nation recover and make progress on education, health care, energy and other key goals by volunteering, whether it is helping students achieve in school, weatherizing homes and greening communities, rebuilding cities in times of disaster, feeding the hungry, helping seniors live independently, and much more.
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (H.R. 1388), which received final passage by the House on March 31 by a vote of 275-149 and was signed into law in April 2009, includes new changes (highlighted in red below) from the previous version of the bill, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act. The bill authorizes nearly $6 billion over five years – FY 2010 through FY 2014.
Expanding Service Opportunities for College Students »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Middle and High School Students »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Seniors »
Expanding Green Service for Americans »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Veterans »
Strengthening Volunteer Disaster Relief Efforts »
Find Out About National Service in Your State »
Creates 175,000 New Service Opportunities and Rewards Americans for Commitment
- Grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. These new service opportunities will include the expansion of existing service programs, like AmeriCorps, as well as four new service corps focused on education, health care, energy and veterans. All service programs established under the bill will be overseen by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
- Increases the full-time education award service members receive in exchange for their work to $5,350 for 2010. This award would also be linked to match future increases in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.
- Establishes four new service corps to address key needs in low income communities, including a Clean Energy Corps to encourage energy efficiency and conservation, an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement and graduation, a Healthy Futures Corps to improve health care access, and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans.
- Establishes the Summer of Service program that engages middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs. Students will be eligible to participate in two terms of service and earn up to a total of $1,000.
- Establishes Youth Engagement Zones, a new service-learning program to engage low-income high school students and out-of-school youth in volunteer efforts that address challenges in their local communities. The program will encourage partnerships between community-based organizations and schools in high-need communities and apply real world activities to teach students about a certain topic. For example, volunteering in a homeless shelter could supplement a class about poverty.
- Expands opportunities for disadvantaged youth, including doubling the resources available to engage youth with disabilities, to become more involved with service and offers people of all ages and those from diverse backgrounds introduction to service.
- Encourages adults to serve as mentors for foster youth.
- Establishes a new office for service opportunities for Native Americans.
- Expands the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include disaster relief, infrastructure improvement, environmental and energy conservation, and urban and rural development.
- Encourages service partnerships with other federal agencies and increases the participation of disadvantaged youth to 50 percent of program participants by 2011.
- Establishes an alumni corps of former participants who can be called to service during times of disaster and other emergencies.
- Encourages scientists, technicians and mathematicians to participate in service programs to help keep our nation competitive.
- Creates two new fellowships to engage social entrepreneurs, boomers and retirees, the private sector and Americans from all generations into service. Older Americans will be allowed to transfer their awards to a child, foster child or grandchild to help them pay for college.
Creates a nationwide community-based infrastructure to leverage investments in service
- ServeAmerica Fellowships: ServeAmerica Fellows are individuals who propose their own plans for serving in their communities to address national needs and are matched up with a service sponsor.
- Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships: These programs offer Americans, age 55 or older, post-career service opportunities as well as entrance into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector. Silver Scholars will be able to earn up to $1,000 in exchange for 350 hours of service.
- Builds a nationwide service infrastructure through community-building investments, social entrepreneurship, and programs to support and generate new volunteers.
Encourages Highly Skilled Professionals to Help Improve Global Health
- Community Solutions Fund: Creates a Community Solutions Fund pilot program that awards competitive matching grants to social entrepreneur venture funds in order to provide community organizations with the resources to replicate or expand proven solutions to community challenges, including a new focus on leveraging public private partnerships in small communities and rural areas. (Examples of service organizations that were launched by social entrepreneurs include Teach for America, City Year, Citizen Schools, Jump Start, Working Today, an organization that provides affordable, portable health benefits to 100,000 Americans, and the SEED school, the nation’s first public urban boarding school.)
- Volunteer Generation Fund: Provides grants to improve the quality and capacity of organizations to work with volunteers, and to create innovations in volunteerism in the areas of recruitment, training and management.
- Expands the Volunteers for Prosperity program which encourages highly skilled professionals to serve internationally in targeted areas of need such as global health.
- Includes a Call to Service Campaign to launch a national campaign encouraging all Americans to engage in service and to observe September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance
- Establishes the Campuses of Service to support and recognize institutions of higher education with exemplary service-learning programs and assists students in the pursuit of public service careers.
![Dina Titus.jpg](https://webharvest.gov/congress111th/20101205025358im_/http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/assets_c/2009/03/Dina%20Titus-thumb-125x125-316.jpg)
At today’s hearing, Gina Adams, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, told us that research shows that the general quality of care that children receive in our country is not adequate. She recommended focusing our policies across the age spectrum from birth to age five, investing in efforts that support the ability of working families to access high quality services, and improving the quality of child care.
The Deputy Secretary pointed out that we need to develop a consistent national framework of standards. A question I would pose to Dichter and others is how the federal government might both implement national standards and preserve states’ autonomy and creativity in programming. Further, I would welcome her input, and those of others, as to how we might implement national accountability standards without creating a “No Child Left Behind Act” for pre-school children. I look forward to continuing this dialogue with Dichter and others in future Committee hearings on early childhood development.
We know that children’s experiences in the first five years of life greatly influence brain architecture and chemistry in ways that can have lifelong impacts on learning, behavior, and health. And we know that the knowledge and skills gap between children from less advantaged families and those from higher-income families is evident before elementary school. A high-quality early education – one of the most important opportunities we can give our children – will ensure future generations’ success in school and beyond.
This effort comes a week after President Barack Obama delivered his first major speech on education, in which he discussed early education as a critical part of his agenda.
It will also expand the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include environmental and energy conservation efforts. Many of the new service and volunteer programs it will establish for younger students could include opportunities that enhance climate change education and introduce young Americans to the green-collar jobs of the future by performing energy audits and retrofits, weatherizing homes, rebuilding trails and parks, building and maintaining gardens and green spaces in communities, managing recycling programs, and more.
Green service programs are already making a big difference in communities across the country. Currently, more than a hundred energy conservation service programs operate in 46 states and serve 26,000 young Americans each year. For example, the Montana Conservation Corps have weatherized and retrofit more than 4,000 homes in low income communities and reservations. In Colorado, the Mile High Youth Corps – 50 percent are high school dropouts – perform energy audits and retrofits that save families in Denver $110 a year in utility costs. For more examples of similar initiatives, click here.
American service organizations and volunteers have played a vital role in relief and recovery efforts in the wake of tragedies. For example, since August 2005, the Corporation for National and Community Service, has provided more than $130 million worth of relief to Gulf Coast states devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and deployed nearly 92,000 national service volunteers who have put in over 3.5 million hours helping communities rebuild. This doesn’t include the additional 260,000 community volunteers involved in the recovery.
Even before floods devastated homes and businesses in southeast Iowa, volunteers were on the ground. To date, AmeriCorps has coordinated over 800,000 volunteer hours to help the state recover.
The Serve America Act creates a greater infrastructure and capacity for respond to disasters by growing the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. The bill also makes it possible for existing programs to respond more effectively by expanding the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include disaster relief and infrastructure improvement. The bill also establishes an alumni corps of former participants who can be called to service during times of disaster and other emergencies.
Americans’ desire to give back is growing. In the five year after September 11th, the percent of college students who volunteer increased to over 30 percent. In 2007, more than 61 million Americans spent over 8 billion hours volunteering, generating $158 billion worth of benefits.
National and community service and volunteerism among college students is especially high. From September 2001 to 2006, the overall percent of college students who volunteer has increased to over 30 percent, exceeding the volunteer rate for adults. According to a 2006 report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, college students are twice as likely to volunteer as Americans of the same age who are not enrolled in an institution of higher education.
Specifically, the bill (H.R. 1388) will more than triple the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans, from 75,000 to 250,000, in key areas like education, clean energy, health care, and assistance for veterans. The bill will also increase the education reward they receive from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award. The education award will be linked to match future boosts in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.
It will help our nation get through the economic crisis by making Americans of all ages a part of the solution to the many challenges facing the nation, including education. The bill will both increase opportunities for students to get involved with service and boost service initiatives focused on education, including mentoring programs and programs that help boost student achievement. This is the largest expansion of national service since President Kennedy issued his call to service over fifty years ago.
To give more young Americans the opportunity to get involved, the GIVE Act will create a Summer of Service Program to engage middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities. In return for their service contributions, students will earn a $500 education award to put toward getting a college education.
It also will establish new Youth Engagement Zones, service learning programs that will build partnerships between community-based organizations and schools to help high school students and out-of-school youth address specific challenges, especially in low-income communities.
Overall, the bill (H.R. 1388) will more than triple the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans of all ages, from 75,000 to 250,000, and establishes a new service corps focused on education. It will also increase the education reward participants receive from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award.
In 2005, nearly a third of all baby boomers volunteered with formal organizations -– the highest volunteer rate of any group of Americans according to the Corporation for National & Community Service. The bill will create Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships that will create opportunities for seniors to transition into service after they have retired. Silver Scholars will be able to earn up to $1,000 in exchange for 350 hours of service. For seniors who may need to re-enter the workforce to make ends meet, these programs can also help them transition into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector.
Veterans are uniquely situated to understand and meet the special needs of those returning home from war. The Veteran’s Corps will function similarly to AmeriCorps or Senior Corps by creating opportunities for veterans to continue serving their country. The Serve America Act will support programs that help provide education, mentoring, and job training to fellow veterans. It will be the first program of its kind.
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Other common themes we heard in today’s hearing had to do with ensuring access to high quality child care and early education opportunities, supporting families in their role as children’s first and most important teachers, and the need for improved data collection and analysis so we can learn from and improve on what we know works. We also heard that federal early education policy should foster collaboration at the state level and allow flexibility for states, as some states are further along the spectrum of access and quality, and every state has its own strengths and cultural needs.
Many states – including my home state of Hawaii – have a lot of work ahead of us before our children will have access to high quality child care and preschools. From what we’ve heard from our panel today, investments in early education are especially important now during this economic downturn. As more parents lose their jobs and more homes are lost through foreclosures, we must continue to support families in providing affordable, safe, consistent learning environments for their children.
Also this week, the House will vote on the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, which was passed by the Committee on March 11 by a vote of 34-3.
The GIVE Act will create new service opportunities for Americans by more than tripling the current number of volunteers, raising the number to 250,000. It will also boost the education awards volunteers receive in exchange for their service - encouraging more young students to get involved in service while helping them pay for college. And it will help prepare current and future generations for jobs in the green economy, and establish a Veterans Corp to meet the unique needs of veterans and military families.
Created with flickrSLiDR.
President Obama called on Congress to send him similar legislation in his first major address to Congress; the House is expected to consider the measure in the coming weeks.
The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act will create new service opportunities for Americans by more than tripling the current number of volunteers, raising the number to 250,000. It will also boost the education awards volunteers receive in exchange for their service - encouraging more young students to get involved in service while helping them pay for college. And it will help prepare current and future generations for jobs in the green economy, and establish a Veterans Corp to meet the unique needs of veterans and military families.
Education and Labor Committee Mark-Up of H.R. 1388, the GIVE Act
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT
WHERE:
Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Calling Americans to Serve at a Critical Time
America is facing unprecedented challenges – the economy, health care, energy, schools in need of improvement and more. With our public needs intensifying in this recession, there’s no better time to support and energize community service and volunteerism to help our country get through this economic crisis, restore confidence and prepare our nation for the future.
President Obama has called on Congress to create new opportunities for Americans to build a stronger country by helping students perform better in school, prepare Americans for green and innovative 21st century jobs, rebuild cities in times of disaster, improve communities and much, much more. This legislation, passed by the Committee by a vote of 34-3 on March 11, 2009, answers his call. It will launch a new era of service that will give Americans of all ages an opportunity to invest through service in our nation’s recovery.
Expanding Service Opportunities for College Students »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Middle and High School Students »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Seniors »
Expanding Green Service for Americans »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Veterans »
Strengthening Volunteer Disaster Relief Efforts »
Find Out About National Service in Your State »
Creates 175,000 New Service Opportunities and Rewards Americans for Commitment
- Grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. The bill also links the full-time education award to the maximum authorized Pell Grant award amount in order to keep up with rising college costs.
Provides Incentives for Middle and High School Students to Engage in Service
- Establishes the Summer of Service program that engages middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs.
Makes High School Students Part of Solution to Challenges in their Communities
- Establishes Youth Engagement Zones, a new service-learning program to help bridge partnerships between community based organizations and schools in high-need, low-income communities to engage high school students and out-of-school youth in service-learning to address specific challenges their communities face.
Recognizes and Supports Colleges and Universities Engaged in Service
- Establishes the Campuses of Service to support and recognize institutions of higher education with exemplary service-learning programs and assists students in the pursuit of public service careers.
Boosts Opportunities for Disadvantaged Youth
- Expands opportunities for disadvantaged youth, including those with disabilities, to become more involved with service and strives to include people of all ages and those from diverse background in volunteerism.
Creates Green and Other New Service Corps to Meet Key Needs in Low-Income Communities
- Establishes four new service corps to address key needs in low income communities, including a Clean Energy Corps to encourage energy efficiency and conservation measures, an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement and graduation, a Healthy Futures Corps to improve health care access, and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans.
Broadens Scope of Collaborative Service Efforts
- Expands the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include disaster relief, infrastructure improvement, environmental and energy conservation, and urban and rural development.
- Encourages service partnerships with other federal agencies.
Recruits Scientists and Engineers to Service to Keep America Competitive
- Recruits scientists, technicians, mathematicians and engineers into national service to help keep America competitive.
Establishes an Alumni Reserve to Respond in Emergencies
- Establishes an alumni corps of former participants who can be called to service during times of disaster and other emergencies.
Expands Service Opportunities for Older Americans and Public-Private Partnerships
- Creates two new fellowships to engage social entrepreneurs, seniors and retirees, the private sector and Americans from all generations in service.
- ServeAmerica Fellowships: ServeAmerica Fellows are individuals who propose their own plans for serving in their communities to address national needs and are matched up with a service sponsor.
- Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships: These programs offer seniors, age 55 or older, opportunities to transition into service post-career as well as entrance into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector.
Creates a Nationwide Community-Based Infrastructure to Leverage Investments in Service
- Builds a nationwide service infrastructure through community-building investments and social entrepreneurship.
- Community Solutions Fund: Creates a Community Solutions Fund pilot program that awards competitive matching grants to social entrepreneur venture funds in order to provide community organizations with the resources to replicate or expand proven solutions to community challenges.
- Volunteer Generation Fund: Provides grants to improve the quality and capacity of organizations to work with volunteers, and to create innovations in volunteerism in the areas of recruitment, training and management.
Establishes Call to Service Campaigns
- Includes a Call to Service Campaign to launch a national campaign encouraging all Americans to engage in service and to observe September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.
Support for the GIVE Act (H.R. 1388)
"We, the undersigned Mayors, support expanding community and national service opportunities for Americans of all ages. In this difficult time for our country, service remains an enduring American value that brings people together and reminds us of the strength of our common bond. As mayors, we have seen first hand how important community and national service can be to help us address pressing challenges in our cities and towns...
"We urge the Congress to promptly pass and fully fund the bi-partisan Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act – H.R. 1388."
U.S. Mayors
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 13KB)»
"We write in support of reauthorizing and expanding AmeriCorps and other national service and volunteer programs that the Corporation for National and Community Service administers. Accordingly, we support the passage of the House Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act and the Senate Serve America Act. In this difficult time for our country, service remains an enduring American value that brings communities together and reminds us of the strength of our common bond.
"As Governors, we witness firsthand the positive effects that national service and volunteerism have in communities throughout our states. Through outstanding state-federal partnerships, we have a unique opportunity to support service and volunteering through Corporation for National and Community Service programs. Additionally, Governor-appointed state commissions oversee and administer AmeriCorps, promote national service and volunteering, and develop innovative volunteer opportunities to meet the needs of our communities and our states."
U.S. Governors
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 520KB)»
"I too agree with President Obama's call to Congress to invest in our nation's recovery through service. The time is now! Today's challenges are why the work of those who choose to serve their communities through programs such as those supported by the GIVE Act is so crucial."
Usher Raymond IV, Chairman and Founder
Usher's New Look Foundation
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 231KB) »
“Students graduating from high school and college face two of the greatest challenges in our nation’s history – an economic crisis and global warming. This legislation will jumpstart a new generation of green leaders by teaching them skills needed to develop clean energy and improve our nation’s energy efficiency, which is the cheapest, fastest, and cleanest way to reduce global warming pollution and save money.”
Jim Presswood, Federal Energy Policy Director
Natural Resources Defense Council
"On behalf of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU), thank you for including provisions in the GIVE Act (H.R. 1388) that support community service and service learning efforts by universities. We endorse the overall purpose of the legislation to encourage more Americans to serve and volunteer in areas of national need...
"As anchors for our nation’s cities, USU institutions are engaged in partnerships and outreach within our local communities and metropolitan areas, including community service and service learning."
Nancy L. Zimpher, Chair
Coalition of Urban Serving Universities
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 93KB) »
"The GIVE Act will dramatically improve the national service field’s ability to meet our nation’s most challenging needs. Jumpstart applauds the inclusion of provisions to strengthen national and community service, including the provisions to create new Corps to address particular challenges, increase in the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award amount, allow individuals to be eligible to receive an aggregate of two full-time service awards, and establish a Community Solutions Fund to support the growth of innovative programs.
"The call for national service has never been more important."
James Cleveland, President
Jumpstart
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 32KB) »
"On behalf of over 40 million members, AARP writes in support of an amendment to incorporate the Volunteer Generation Fund in H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act (G.I.V.E. Act), and to support enactment of H.R. 1388 with the inclusion of the Volunteer Generation Fund...
"This legislation will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities at a time when many communities are in great need."
David P. Sloane, Senior Vice President
Government Relations and Advocacy
AARP
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 787KB) »
"NCOA’s work in national and community service clearly demonstrates that adults approaching retirement age are concerned about the future of the country and want to give back – but in new ways with more impact. Many of them will be interested in exploring service opportunities, but may need some incentive and encouragement to get involved. NCOA believes that our nation should adopt public policies that empower older adults to make a
commitment to remain active citizens in their communities in ways that address critical human needs. We believe the provisions of the GIVE Act with its recommendations for modernizing the National Senior Corps does just that."
James P. Firman
National Council on Aging
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 94KB) »
"The GIVE Act includes many important programmatic adjustments that will help to make the benefits of service available to more participants and more communities, improve program quality, provide a mechanism for appropriate evaluation of programs, ensure participant diversity, recalculate the value of the AmeriCorps Education Award, and address a host of other structural and programmatic issues...
"By reauthorizing these national service programs, you can ensure that every American has an opportunity to serve in his or her community. Our communities, our states, and our entire nation will benefit from the continued services that these volunteers provide."
Tom Branen, Executive Director
America’s Service Commissions
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 108KB) »
"On behalf of the students, families, staff, and supporters of Citizen Schools, I offer our strong support for the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act (H.R. 1388)...
"This legislation will allow organizations like Citizen Schools to serve more children, more effectively. Citizen Schools is a leading national education initiative that uniquely mobilizes thousands of adult volunteers to help improve student achievement and close the achievement gap by teaching skill-building apprenticeships after school."
Eric Schwarz, President and CEO
Citizen Schools
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 64KB) »
"Through our work at the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, we have seen how service can be a powerful strategy for meeting growing needs, giving Americans meaningful work in a difficult climate, and getting our economy moving again. That is why I am writing to urge you to support swift passge and full funding of the GIVE Act (H.R. 1388)."
Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director
Serve Connecticut
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 1.35MB) »
"We are deeply grateful that the House Education and Labor Committee has recognized the pivotal moment we are in as a country and responded by passing H.R. 1388, The GIVE Act. Service can play a critical role in getting our economy moving again, engaging Americans in productive work in difficult times and meeting the growing needs in communities. We need to reinvest in service, starting with the reauthorization of national and community service programs operated by The Corporation for National and Community Service, which have not been reauthorized in 16 years.
"We believe that the provisions in H.R. 1388 will make it possible for more Americans to serve, stimulate more volunteering and increase the diversity of those serving. We also believe that the reforms contained in the bill will ensure accountability, transparency, and results, while providing administrative simplification to help faith and community-based organizations—particularly those smaller nonprofits operating in rural areas and in economically disadvantaged communities—to more effectively meet community needs."
National Service Organizations
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 176KB) »
"Thank you for your leadership in the face of such unprecedented economic challenges. We are writing to express our strong support for the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act of 2009 (GIVE Act). The GIVE Act will reauthorize the National and Community Services Act of 1990 by making key reforms to the Americorps program. Community challenges such as rising unemployment and the current foreclosure crisis have disproportionately affected our most vulnerable communities, which is why the work of those who choose to serve these communities through programs such as the ones supported by the GIVE Act is so crucial."
Michael Rubinger, President and Chief Executive Officer
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 76KB) »
"We are deeply grateful that the House Education and Labor Committee has recognized the pivotal moment we are in as a country and has responded by passing H.R. 1388, The GIVE Act. The Act recognizes that we need to reinvest in service, starting with the reauthorization of national and community service programs operated by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which have not been reauthorized in 16 years."
W. David Mallery, Executive Director
Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 410KB) »
"Responding to systemic problems and crises that face our country, young Americans are giving back in record numbers (nearly a quarter of those over age 16 have volunteered). The Millennial Generation, growing up in the wake of the September 11th attacks, is leading a movement of citizen-centered change and joining together across generational, cultural and socio-economic bounds in a shared sense of ownership and national responsibility. It is in this spirit of renewed civic engagement and service that we urge your support of The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (“GIVE”) Act."
Chris Golden & Nick Troiano
Co-Founders, myImpact
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 29KB) »
"I hope that you will support swift passage of the GIVE Act and the Volunteer Generation Fund amendment when both come to the House floor this week."
Rachel A. Chadderdon, Executive Director
ServeWyoming
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 42KB) »
WHAT:
Hearing on “Lost Educational Opportunities in Alternative Settings”
WHO:
Dr. Thomas Blomberg, Professor of Criminology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Ms. Linda Brooke, Director of Government Relations and Education Services, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, Austin, TX
Dr. Cynthia Cave, Director, Office of Student Services, Richmond, VA
Leonard Dixon, M.S., Executive Director, Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, Detroit, MI
Janeen Steel, Esq., Executive Director, Learning Rights Law Center, Los Angeles, CA
Additional Witnesses TBA
WHEN:
Thursday, March 12, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT
WHERE:
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Please check the Committee's schedule for updates.
The budget rightly calls for phasing out the wasteful and all-too-corruptible portion of the student program that relies on private lenders. And it calls for expanding the less-expensive and more-efficient program that allows students to borrow directly from the federal government. That means doing away with the Federal Family Education Loan Program, under which private lenders receive unnecessary subsidies to make risk-free student loans that are guaranteed by taxpayers.
This builds upon Rep. Miller and the Education and Labor Committee's efforts in the 110th Congress.
We encourage you to read the entire editorial.
Some highlights include:
Early Childhood - The law provides $5 billion for early-childhood programs, including the federally funded Head Start for low-income families.
K-12 - The law calls for distribution of $53.6 billion in "stabilization" funds that will go to states to help avert further education cuts...the Atlanta Public School District, whose general fund is expected to decline to $640 million next school year from the current $661 million, says that the stabilization funds will help save teaching jobs and avert potential cuts to programs, such as professional-development workshops for teachers and student counseling.
Another $12 billion is set aside specifically for programs related to students with disabilities.
Included in the stimulus package is up to $33.6 billion toward school modernization. At the Indianapolis Public Schools, school officials have created a "working document" over the past two weeks to identify structural priorities in their 72 school buildings that could be addressed with stimulus money. "Frankly, it's student safety," says spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley. "Things like ensuring exterior doors are working well."
Higher Education - The stimulus law increases Pell Grants for low-income students to a maximum of $5,350 from the current $4,731 and provides an additional $200 million boost for the federal work-study program, where the government and colleges provide funds to pay students who work part-time.
Read the rest here
Created with flickrSLiDR.
Chairman George Miller's opening statement:
Usher's testimony:
Richard Stengel's testimony:
James Harris' testimony:
Van Jones' testimony:
(More videos from the hearing will be posted as they become available.)
Tomorrow, Thursday, February 26th, the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness will hold a second hearing about New Innovations and Best Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act at 10:00 am in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing will be broadcast live here.
The stimulus package, including a $54 billion “stabilization” fund to protect schools against layoffs and budget cuts, is rightly framed to encourage compliance. States will need to create data collection systems that should ideally show how children perform year to year as well as how teachers affect student performance over time. States will also be required to improve academic standards as well as the notoriously weak tests now used to measure achievement — replacing, for instance, the pervasive fill-in-the-bubble tests with advanced assessments that better measure writing and thinking.
We encourage you to read the entire editorial.
More about the impact of the new law can be found in these White House fact sheets:
Overview on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act »
Impact of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Working Families »
Employment Numbers by State »
Education Fact Sheet »
Health Care Fact Sheet »
Also, visit Recovery.gov to see how money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be spent.
School buildings across the country are literally crumbling. Recent studies estimate that hundreds of billions of dollars are needed to bring schools into good condition, and that 75 percent of schools are in various stages of disrepair. Like other infrastructure projects, modernizing schools will create new, construction jobs while ensuring that students can learn and teachers can teach in safe, healthy, technologically up-to-date, and energy-efficient learning environments.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will put Americans back to work quickly while bringing our schools and colleges into the 21st century. The legislation will:
- Provides funds to repair and modernize existing public school and higher education facilities, as part of the $53.6 billion state stabilization fund. School districts will receive these funds through state and federal education formulas. Funds could be used to:
- Improve the teaching and learning climate;
- Make schools energy efficient, which could save taxpayers billions in energy costs;
- Replace light systems and security doors;
- Repair heating and ventilation systems;
- Bring facilities into compliance with fire, health, and safety codes;
- Make necessary modifications to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; and
- Eliminate exposure to mold, asbestos, mildew and lead-based paint.
Update schools with 21st century technology
- Provide $650 million for Enhancing Education Through Technology (EdTech) – a program which provides grants to schools to increase access to educational technology and further integrate technology into the classroom.
Create green, modern, state-of-the-art classrooms and schools
- Encourages that funds be used to support projects that meet green standards, including projects such as installing green roofs and installing renewable energy generation and heating systems.
States now face a $91 billion shortfall in education funding – putting hundreds of thousands of jobs and the promise of a good education in jeopardy. Economists and scientists agree that strategic, targeted investments in education are needed to create jobs, give America’s children the skills they need to compete globally – and to put our economy back on the road to recovery.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act invests $105.9 billion in education and training to help build the world class education system our economy needs and our children deserve. The plan will:
- Creates a $53.6 billion state stabilization fund to help prevent education-related layoffs, upgrade, repair and modernize schools and restore harmful cuts to education funding, including $39.5 billion for local school districts and public colleges and universities;
- Require states to meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for funds, including:
- Maintain their FY06 education funding levels
- Address teacher distribution inequities to ensure every classroom has a qualified, effective teacher
- Establish a longitudinal data system to help teachers gauge students progress in real time and lay groundwork for use of growth models for accountability
- Develop more fair and better assessments for students to measure critical thinking, problem solving and other complex skills students will need in today’s world.
- Improve state educational standards for students
- Comply with school improvement provisions of current law
- Includes $5 billion for bonus grants to states for making progress in those key areas.
Strengthen education resources for students in need
- Provides $13 billion for Title I grants for high poverty schools, which includes $3 billion to provide extra help to struggling schools;
- Invests $12.2 billion to help schools maintain services for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Make critical investments in early education for an additional 124,000 children
- Provides $2.1 billion for Head Start, and Early Head Start, which provides comprehensive development services for low-income preschool children, infants and toddlers. This will expand early education opportunities for an additional 124,000 children and create 50,000 early education jobs;
- Studies have shown that Head Start is one of the best ways to improve child well-being, increase the educational achievement and future productivity of children, and reduce crime. Studies also show that $1 invested in early education yields up to $17 in returns.
Investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office during the 110th Congress uncovered thousands of cases and allegations of child abuse and neglect since the early 1990’s at teen residential programs. Currently, these programs are governed only by a weak patchwork of state and federal standards. A separate GAO report, also conducted last year at the committee’s request, found major gaps in the licensing and oversight of residential programs – some of which are not covered by any state licensing standards at all. More »
Tens of thousands of U.S. teenagers attend private and public residential programs – including therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness camps, boot camps, and behavior modification facilities – that are intended to help them with behavioral, emotional, mental health, or substance abuse problems. Depending on the state in which the program operates, some of these programs are subject to State law or regulation, while others are not. As a result of this loose patchwork of state oversight, children at some the programs have been subject to abuse and neglect with little to no accountability.
The Government Accountability Office found thousands of allegations of child abuse and neglect at residential programs for teens since the early 1990s. Tragically, in a number of cases, this abuse and neglect led to the death of a child. To address this urgent problem, the “Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009” would:
- Prohibit programs from physically, mentally, or sexually abusing children in their care;
- Prohibit programs from denying children essential water, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care – whether as a form of punishment or for any other reason;
- Require programs to provide children with reasonable access to a telephone and inform children accordingly;
- Require programs to train staff in what constitutes child abuse and neglect and how to report it;
- Require that programs only physically restrain children if it is necessary for their safety or the safety of others, and to do so in a way that is consistent with federal law already applicable in other contexts; and
- Require programs to have plans in place to provide emergency medical care.
Prevent deceptive marketing by residential programs for teens
- Require programs to disclose to parents the qualifications, roles, and responsibilities of staff members;
- Require programs to notify parents of substantiated reports of child abuse or violations of health and safety laws; and
- Require programs to include a link or web address for the website
of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which will carry
information on residential programs.
Hold teen residential programs accountable for violating the law
- Require states to inform the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of reports of child abuse and neglect at covered programs and require HHS to conduct investigations of such programs to determine if a violation of the national standards has occurred; and
- Provide HHS the authority to assess civil penalties up to $50,000 for every violation of the law.
Ask states to step in to protect teens in residential programs
Within three years, states must require all public and private programs to be licensed, meet standards that are at least as stringent as the national standards, and implement a monitoring and enforcement system. The Department of Health and Human Services would continue to inspect programs where a child fatality has occurred or where a pattern of violations has emerged.
Background
- February 23, 2009: House passes Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009, by a vote of 295-102 »
- February 11, 2009: Committee passes Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009, by a vote of 32-10 »
- Full Committee Hearing: "Child Abuse and Deceptive Marketing by Residential Programs for Teens" »
- GAO Audio Clips: Examples of Deceptive Marketing Practices »
- Full Committee Hearing: "Cases of Child Neglect and Abuse at Private Residential Treatment Facilities" »
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 »
Support for H.R. 911
- Parents of victims »
(PDF, 8KB) - American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry »
(PDF, 282KB) - American Academy of Pediatrics »
(PDF, 36KB) - American Association of Children's Residential Centers »
(PDF, 106KB) - American Bar Association »
(PDF, 59KB) - American Humane Association »
(PDF, 34KB) - American Psychological Association »
(PDF, 48KB) - Association of University Centers on Disabilities »
(PDF, 171KB) - Bazelon Center »
(PDF, 85KB) - Child Welfare League of America »
(PDF, 54KB) - Coalition of groups serving children and adolescents with mental health or substance use conditions »
(PDF, 10KB) - Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth »
(PDF, 26KB) - Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates »
(PDF, 23KB) - Disability Policy Coalition »
(PDF, 29KB) - Easter Seals »
(PDF, 132KB) - National Alliance on Mental Illness »
(PDF, 28KB) - National Child Abuse Coalition »
(PDF, 17KB) - National Disability Rights Network »
(PDF, 56KB) - TASH »
(PDF, 35KB)
This vital first step toward jumpstarting the economy will create and save up to four million new jobs and strengthen America’s long-term economy.
“We simply cannot let our education systems collapse as the economy collapses,” Chairman Miller said. “Together, these investments will meet the most urgent challenges we face: creating new jobs that can’t get shipped overseas, mitigating the devastation of state and local budget cuts, and most importantly – making sure that our schoolchildren and students don’t become the victims of this economic crisis. With more job layoffs coming by the day, American workers and families can’t afford to wait for this relief.”
Click here to download the Department of Education's state-level data, including the State Stabilization Fund, Title I and IDEA »
Click here to download the Department of Education's estimates of school district level allocations for Title I » (Approximately half of these funds will be distributed on April 1, 2009; the second installment is expected later this fall.)
Click here to download school district level allocations for IDEA, as calculated by CRS on February 13, 2009 » (Reminder: these are ESTIMATES only. Actual allocations will be determined by each state.) (Approximately half of these funds will be distributed on April 1, 2009; the second installment is expected later this fall.) (State-by-state breakdowns below.)
Click here to download CRS state-level data on Child Care and Development Block Grant Discretionary Funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act »
For Duncan's written testimony, click here.
As the head of Chicago’s public schools, he has an impressive track record in turning around failing schools, increasing graduation rates, and significantly boosting student achievement. He has dramatically improved teacher quality and effectiveness, by working with the local teachers union to establish a performance pay system and by providing mentoring and career ladders for teachers. A longtime champion of early education, he understands that we won’t be able to close the student achievement gap unless we improve educational opportunities for every child from their earliest years on.
Mr. Duncan takes the helm at a pivotal juncture for our schools and our economy. Our schools are in need of serious improvement; families continue to face a college affordability crisis; and we need to continue to strengthen our economic competitiveness. In an education landscape filled with strong – and often sharply contrasting – ideas, I believe that he will provide the leadership needed to bring diverse stakeholders together and break through the political gridlock.
This summer, Mr. Duncan told our committee of the importance of "challenging the status quo, pushing the envelope and driving change." I look forward to working with him and President-elect Obama to provide all students with a world-class education that prepares them to compete in our global economy and pursue their dreams.
Over the summer, Duncan testified before the Education and Labor Committee with mayors and superintendents of major U.S. cities on how to improve America’s schools and close the achievement gap:
For his written testimony, click here.
On May 7, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 was signed into law. This measure provides new protections to ensure that families can continue to access the loans they need to pay for college. Chairman Miller said: "Today we have taken another big step in the right direction for students and families working hard to pay for college in a very tough economy."
Protecting Our Children Comes First Act: Signed Into Law
On June 3, the "Protecting Our Children Comes First Act" was signed into law, reauthorizing and funding federal missing and exploited children programs, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Chairman Miller and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy said in a joint statement: "Nothing matters more than keeping our children out of harm’s way, and this law is a fundamental part of our efforts to do just that."
Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act: Passed by House
The House passed the bipartisan Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 on June 25 by a vote of 318-103. The bill would stop child abuse in teen residential programs attended by tens of thousands of U.S. teenagers, including therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness camps, boot camps, and behavior modification facilities. Depending on the state where they are located, some of these programs are regulated; some are not. As a result of this loose patchwork of regulations, reports of child abuse at the programs have frequently gone unchecked. The Government Accountability Office found thousands of allegations of child abuse and neglect at residential programs for teens between 1994 and 2007. Tragically, in a number of cases, this abuse and neglect led to the death of a child.
21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act: Passed by House
Public school buildings around the country would receive much-needed renovations and modernization under the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, passed by the House on June 4 by a vote of 250 to 164. The measure would provide funding to states and school districts to help ensure that school facilities and learning environments are safe, healthy, energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and technologically up-to-date. The bill would also provide additional support for Gulf Coast schools still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Providing Resources Early for Kids Act: Passed by Committee
On June 26, the Committee passed the Providing Resources Early for Kids Act, by a vote of 31-11, to improve the quality of state pre-school programs, which collectively serve more than 1 million young children. Research increasingly demonstrates that the first years of children’s lives have a much greater and more lasting impact on their future growth and learning than was previously understood. H.R. 3289 establishes a federal-state partnership to expand high-quality early childhood educational opportunities to more children. It provides incentives to states to ensure that their pre-k programs meet children’s developmental and educational needs.
No Child Left Inside Act: Passed by Committee
On June 18, the Committee passed the No Child Left Inside Act by a vote of 37-8. This measure would improve environmental education for schoolchildren both inside and outside of the classroom.
Education Begins at Home Act: Passed by Committee
Also on June 18, the Committee passed the Education Begins at Home Act, a bill to provide critical support services to families, reduce child abuse, and help more children arrive at school ready to succeed by expanding access to early childhood home visitation programs for parents and children.