Subject: Alert on Preserving VR Funding
LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
This notice (which is also available electronically at
"http://www.nfb.org/legslatn.htm") explains the urgent need for
action to preserve adequate funding for the vocational
rehabilitation program.
Communications in response to the threat described below
should be directed to the Senators and House members who will
serve as conferees on the bill-- H.R. 2264/S. 1061--to
appropriate funds for labor, health and human services, and
education programs. Contact information for the conferees is
provided at the end of this notice. Also, any member of the
Senate or House, in addition to the conferees, should be
contacted and asked to help.
Here is the issue. An amendment, which was added on the
Senate floor to the Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations bill
has placed at least half of the funds for the vocational
rehabilitation program in jeopardy. The provision, which would
take effect on October 1, 1997, directs the Secretary of
Education to send half of the funds appropriated for
rehabilitation services and disability research directly to local
public school districts to be used for kindergarten through 12th
grade education programs. The amendment was offered by Senator
Slade Gorton from Washington State.
A point of order against the Gorton amendment failed by only
two votes, allowing the provision to remain in the Senate version
of the bill. At this point, there is no comparable proposal
being made in the House, but the House will not complete action
on H.R. 2264 until perhaps Wednesday, September 17. Every member
of the House--especially the Democrats--should be alerted to
objections to the Gorton amendment and asked to raise or support
a point of order against any similar proposal if it is offered in
the House.
Senator Gorton's amendment is principally aimed at
distributing most federal education funds directly to schools
through a block-grant approach. Special education funds would be
exempt from the block grant, but half of the money for
rehabilitation services would not be exempt, even though the VR
program mainly serves adults. The net effect is that vocational
rehabilitation dollars in each state would be cut in half
beginning in October. This can be avoided if the conferees agree
to drop or modify the Gorton amendment. If they accept the
Senate bill as is, the money for rehabilitation will be cut.
The contact information follows:
HOUSE CONFEREES ON APPROPRIATONS FOR THE LABOR, HHS AND EDUCATION
APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Note: The members of the House listed below serve on the
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education of
the House Appropriations Committee. In addition to the members
of the Subcommittee, who serve as conferees on the annual
appropriations bill, there are two ex-officio members--one
representing the majority, and one representing the minority--who
also serve as conferees. The ex-officio members are the chairman
and ranking minority members of the full committee unless one of
them is already a conferee by virtue of serving on the
subcommittee by membership designation. Their position on the
full committee can significantly influence subcommittee action in
many circumstances.
MAJORITY
John Edward Porter, Chairman
202-225-3508 - voice
202-225-0837 - fax
STAFF: S. Anthony McCann
C. W. Bill Young, FL
202-225-5961 - voice
202-225-9764 - fax
Henry Bonilla, TX
202-225-4511 - voice
202-225-2237 - fax
Ernest Jim Istook, OK
202-225-2132 - voice
202-226-1463 - fax
Dan Miller, FL
202-225-5015 - voice
202-226-0828 - fax
Jay Dickey, AR
202-225-3772 - voice
202-225-1314 - fax
Roger Wicker, MS
202-225-4306 - voice
202-225-3549 - fax
Anne Northup, KY
202-225-5401 - voice
202-225-5776 - fax
MINORITY
David R. Obey, WI, Ranking Minority Member
202-225-3481 - voice
202-225-9476 - fax
STAFF: Mark Mioduski
Louis Stokes, OH
202-225-7032 - voice
202-225-1339 - fax
Steny H. Hoyer, MD
202-225-4131 - voice
202-225-4300 - fax
Nancy Pelosi, CA
202-225-4965 - voice
202-225-8259 - fax
Nita M. Lowey, NY
202-225-6505 - voice
202-225-0546 - fax
Rosa DeLauro, CT
202-225-3661 - voice
202-225-4890 - fax
EX-OFFICIO:
Bob Livingston, LA, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee
202-225-3015 - voice
202-225-0739 - fax
STAFF: Paul Cambon
Sidney R. Yates, IL
202-225-2111 - voice
202-225-3493
SENATE CONFEREES ON APPROPRIATONS FOR THE LABOR, HHS AND
EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS BILL
Note: The members of the Senate listed below serve on the
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education of
the Senate Appropriations Committee. In addition to the members
of the Subcommittee, who serve as conferees on the annual
appropriations bill, there are two ex-officio members--one
representing the majority, and one representing the minority--who
also serve as conferees. The ex-officio members are the chairman
and ranking minority members of the full committee unless one of
them is already a conferee by virtue of serving on the
subcommittee by membership designation. Their position on the
full committee can significantly influence subcommittee action in
many circumstances.
MAJORITY
Arlen Specter, PA, Chairman
202-224-4254 - voice
202-28-1229 - fax
STAFF: Dale Cabaniss
Thad Cochran, MS
202-224-5054 - voice
202-224-9450 - fax
Slade Gorton, WA
202-224-3441 - voice
202-224-9393 - fax
Christopher (Kit) Bond, MO
202-224-5721 - voice
202-224-8149 - fax
Judd Gregg, NH
202-224-3324 - voice
202-224-4952 - fax
Lauch Faircloth, NC
202-224-3154 - voice
202-224-7406 - fax
Larry E. Craig, ID
202-224-2752 - voice
202-228-1067 - fax
Kay Bailey Hutchison, TX
202-224-5922 -voice
202-224-0776 - fax
MINORITY
Tom Harkin, IA, Ranking Minority Member
202-224-3254 - voice
202-224-9369 - fax
Ernest F. Hollings, SC
202-224-6121 - voice
202-224-4293 - fax
Daniel K. Inouye, HI
202-224-3934 - voice
202-224-6747 - fax
Dale Bumpers, AR
202-224-4843 - voice
202-224-6435 - fax
Harry Reid, NV
202-224-3542 - voice
202-224-7327 - fax
Herb Kohl, WI
202-224-5653 - voice
202-224-4464 - fax
Patty Murray, WA
202-224-2621 - voice
202-224-0238 - fax
EX-OFFICIO
Ted Stevens, AK, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee
202-224-3004 - voice
202-224-2354 - fax
STAFF: Steven J. Cortese
Robert C. Byrd, WV
202-224-3954 - voice
202-224-4168 - fax
STAFF: James H. English^
David Andrews (dandrews@visi.com)
or BBS: (telnet to nfbnet.org) or call (612) 696-1975
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