Congress Resumes Work on Appropriations Bills
Having returned from their August recess, Congress will resume work on the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Related Agencies appropriations bills. The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Dave Obey (D-WI), was reported out of the House Appropriations Committee in July. The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), cleared the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, but has yet to make it to the full committee.

Congress has much to complete in September. A packed Congressional agenda includes completing action on the FY 2010 federal budget, a massive healthcare reform bill, climate change legislation, and vetting the remaining Obama Administration nominees. It is becoming increasingly likely that a continuing resolution will be required to keep government agencies operating after October 1. Track President Obama’s budget request with the House committee version and the Senate subcommittee version on this chart developed by Washington Partners LLC.

ED Issues New Guidance on ARRA
On September 2, the Department of Education released new guidance on the use of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Title I, Part A, and IDEA, Parts B and C funds.  This guidance builds off of existing guidance issued in April and is intended to “support integrated planning to accelerate and advance school and district strategies and ARRA reform goals.” View a summary of guidance developed by Washington Partners LLC.

Senator Tom Harkin Named Chairman of the HELP Committee
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) named Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) as successor to Sen. Ted Kennedy as Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Harkin will oversee the education and labor agendas in the Senate. As a longtime champion of IDEA, Title I and Pell Grants, and because of his role as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, Harkin is well known and well liked by the education community.

Comprehensive Literacy Bill
Congress continues to work on drafting and introducing a comprehensive literacy bill that would support comprehensive state and locally led literacy programs to ensure that children from birth to Grade 12 have the reading and writing skills necessary for success in school and beyond. It is expected that the bill will be introduced in the Senate by Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) first, followed by the House where the sponsors will be Reps. John Yarmuth (D-KY), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Todd Platts (R-PA). In June, during the Teacher Leader Institute and North American Leadership Academy, 300 Reading Recovery professionals met with their members of Congress and were vocal in support of this comprehensive approach to literacy education.