Congress Adjourns for August Recess: Where Do We Stand?
>
> Congress adjourns at the end of this week for the August recess and
> will not return to work in Washington, DC until after Labor Day. In
> recent months, Congress has taken up a number of bills addressing
> issues of concern to educators, and, with your help, NEA has secured a
> number of important victories. Education-related issues will also be on
> the fall congressional agenda. Education Funding:
>
> Good News: Although Congress has not completed work on an education
> funding bill for the next fiscal year (which begins October 1, 2007),
> the House of Representatives has passed a bill that would provide
> significant increases for critical education programs like Title I,
> special education, and Pell Grants. The Senate Appropriations Committee
> has also passed a bill with real increases for education.
>
> Status: The full Senate may take up its funding bill after the August
> recess. The President has threatened to veto any bill that spends more
> than requested in his budget, as both the House and Senate bill do. It
> is likely that education funding will be wrapped up in a larger
> "omnibus" bill at the end of the year, along with any other
> funding bills that Congress has not finalized. A showdown between
> Congress and the President is likely later this year.
>
> ESEA Reauthorization:
>
> Good News: Nearly 70 bills
> [http://capwiz.com/nea/utr/1/KVADHMMKPO/BAGYHMMKYR/1337919876] have been introduced in Congress that would
> further parts of NEA's Positive Agenda for the ESEA Reauthorization
> [http://capwiz.com/nea/utr/1/KVADHMMKPO/HETBHMMKYS/1337919876].
>
> Status: Congress is expected to start work on a reauthorization bill in
> the fall.
>
> College Affordability:
>
> Good News: The House and Senate have each passed bills that would help
> make college more affordable, including by increasing the maximum Pell
> Grant, capping student loan payments at a manageable percent of income,
> and raising the amount that working students can earn without reducing
> their financial aid awards.
>
> Status: The bills have moved to a conference committee and reports
> indicate an agreement may have been reached. The final agreement could
> go to the House and Senate for passage before they leave for recess.
>
> Social Security Offsets:
>
> Good News: Both the House
> [http://capwiz.com/nea/utr/1/KVADHMMKPO/NSJUHMMKYT/1337919876] and Senate
> [http://capwiz.com/nea/utr/1/KVADHMMKPO/ALDSHMMKYU/1337919876] versions of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R.
> 82/S. 206), which would fully repeal both the Government Pension Offset
> and Windfall Elimination Provision, have garnered record numbers of
> cosponsors. Charlie Rangel, Chair of the House Ways and Means
> Committee, has announced plans
> [http://capwiz.com/nea/utr/1/KVADHMMKPO/GTSWHMMKYV/1337919876 hold a hearing on the bill.
>
> Status: The Ways and Means hearing has not yet been scheduled. NEA
> continues to push for an immediate hearing, followed by movement of the
> bill through Committee as soon as possible.
>
> Rural Education:
>
> Good News: Congress has passed a one-year extension of the expired
> Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, which
> ensures a consistent funding stream for rural timber-dependent
> counties.
>
> Status: NEA continues to fight for passage of legislation to
> reauthorize this important program and ensure its continuation beyond
> this year. A new bill to do this has been introduced and referred to
> the appropriate committees.
>
> Children's Health Insurance:
>
> Good News: The House has passed legislation to expand the State
> Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides health
> coverage to uninsured children.
>
> Status: The Senate continues to debate its SCHIP bill, and a vote could
> occur before Congress adjourns. SCHIP expires at the end of September.
> President Bush has promised to veto any bill that expands the program.
>
> Head Start:
>
> Good News: The House has passed the NEA-supported Improving Head Start
> Act (H.R. 1429), which provides for increased Head Start funding,
> focuses on professional development, and rejects testing of young
> children. The Senate education committee has also passed a good Head
> Start bill.
>
> Status: The full Senate has not yet acted on a Head Start
> reauthorization bill. Timing of any Senate action is unclear.
>
> Minimum Wage:
>
> Good News: Congress passed and the President signed into law a
> three-level increase in the federal minimum wage over two years---from
> $5.15 to $7.25 an hour.
>
> Status: The first step of the three level wage increase (to $5.85 per
> hour) took effect July 24th, 2007.
>
> School Bus Security:
>
> Good News: Congress has passed legislation requiring a comprehensive
> assessment of the threat of a terrorist attack on the nation's school
> bus transportation system.
>
> Status: The larger bill in which these provisions are included is
> headed to the President, who is expected to sign it into law shortly.