Weekly Legislative Highlights: September 24 through September 28, 2007
Updated September 28, 2007
*Rep. Michael Ferguson Co-Sponsors H.R. 648
*NCLB Reauthorization Update
*Congress Passes SCHIP Bill with Medicaid Moratorium
*President Bush Signs Higher Ed Bill with Teacher Scholarships
*Education Funding Update
Rep. Michael Ferguson co-sponsors H.R. 648 – An update on the co-sponsors campaign
This week, Rep. Michael Ferguson (R-NJ-7th) signed on to co-sponsor H.R. 648, No Child Left Behind Improvements Act of 2007, which includes the more than 40 recommendations NSBA put forth to improve NCLB. To date, 522 school boards have passed resolutions in support of H.R. 648. Congressional staffs from states with many resolutions have taken note and report that the large number of board resolutions in support of H.R. 648 is “not insignificant.” View a copy of the resolution and the list of school boards that passed resolutions at www.nsba.org/nclbcampaign. Thank you for your effort in our NCLB co-sponsorship campaign!
NCLB Reauthorization update
A new NCLB resource is now available to help you compare the current law with NSBA’s recommendations for reauthorization and the House committee discussion draft. View a copy of the comparison chart.
In addition, NSBA sent a personalized call to action this week to members with a member of Congress on the House or Senate education committees, urging Congress not to slow down the reauthorization process and to improve the law now.
Congress passes SCHIP Bill with Medicaid moratorium
Both the House and the Senate passed legislation reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, ensuring a showdown with President Bush who has promised to veto the measure. The House's 265-159 vote on Tuesday is short of the 2/3 margin needed to override a veto, whereas the Senate passed the bill 67-29 later in the week.
Thanks to your grassroots efforts, the provision was included that would bar the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from cutting Medicaid payments to schools for administrative and transportation related expenses. The bill would impose a 6-month moratorium on CMS from taking any action on a newly proposed rule (CMS-2287-P) that would restrict school districts’ ability to seek federal reimbursement for enrolling children in the Medicaid program and providing students—mostly low-income students with disabilities—with certain types of services.
NSBA sent a letter to Congress expressing support for the bill and highlighting the importance of the moratorium provision.
Update: President Bush signs Higher Ed bill with teacher scholarships
On September 27, President Bush signed H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act, which authorizes an increase in Pell Grants from $4,300 to $5,400 over five years. The legislation also included TEACH Grants, which are undergraduate and graduate scholarships for future and current educators who agree to teach in high-poverty schools and high-need subjects. NSBA urged the inclusion of the grants in the final bill.
Education Funding Update
The Senate will take up the Education Appropriations bill soon according to Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) office. As you know the House passed their version of the spending bill, H.R. 3043, in July. The House's funding bill would provide more than a $2.5 billion increase for Title I, IDEA and other K-12 programs. Please stay tuned for a call to action in the coming weeks.