March, 2011 

This Week in Washington Calendar - March 11
This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education. Please use the bookmarks below to navigate to your area of interest.

February, 2011

This Week in Washington
Over a week ago the House of Representatives approved a spending plan for FY 2011 that would slash federal spending and give the government $100 billion less than President Obama’s request for the year. No agency was spared, and the proposed cuts to education totaled $10.5 billion or 15 percent.

This Week in Washington Calendar - Feb. 28-March 4
This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education. Please use the bookmarks below to navigate to your area of interest.

This Week in Washington - Feb. 23, 2011
The President struggled all last week to gain traction on the proposed FY 2012 budget he sent to the Congress on February 14th. Though the bill called for a freeze overall in domestic spending, the news for the Department of Education was good—a $2 billion increase over last year and funding for many innovative-sounding new initiatives which included $350 million for the Early Learning Challenge Fund.

This Week in Washington - Calendar - Feb. 21-25, 2011
This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education. Please use the bookmarks below to navigate to your area of interest.

This Week in Washington - Feb. 16, 2011
This Monday marked the release of the President’s FY2012 budget proposal. On the heels of an economy emerging from catastrophic economic woes, President Obama’s proposed $3.72 trillion budget includes a $2 billion increase from the FY2011 Continuing Resolution levels in the Department of Education’s (ED) budget while simultaneously calling for a five-year freeze on all domestic discretionary spending.

This Week In Washington - Calendar - Feb. 14-18, 2011
This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education.

This Week in Washington -Week of Feb. 9, 2011
As the March 4th expiration date for the continuing resolution (CR) approaches, Members of Congress are finally getting down to the business of writing a budget for FY 2011. Though the Senate remains in a “wait and see” mode, Republican leaders in the House announced that overall spending for the fiscal year that began on October 1, 2010 will be reduced by $43 billion-- 9.3% below the previous year.

This Week in Washington- Week of Feb. 2, 2011
In his State of the Union address, President Obama noted the importance of maintaining the nation’s “leadership in research and technology” and linked this imperative to innovatively educating America’s youth. The President, concerned as U.S. students continue to fall behind their international peers in math and science achievement and college graduation rates, expressed his continued support for what he considers to be the most “meaningful reform of our public schools in a generation,” the Race To the Top initiative, and pointed to the program as one that might serve as a framework for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). While overall, education was a substantial piece of the President’s address and is a clear priority, he did not mention early childhood education specifically.

This Week in Washington, calendar- The Week of FEBRUARY 7 – FEBRUARY 11, 2011
This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education.

January, 2011

This Week in Washington calendar- Week of January 31- Feb. 4
This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education.

This Week in Washington calendar- Week of January 24-28

This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education. Please use the bookmarks below to navigate to your area of interest.

Week of January 18, 2011
This Week in Washington
The House returned this week, however, to take up the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act (H.R. 2), to repeal the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and promised a more civil tone characterizing the debate. MORE

Week of January 10, 2011
This Week in Washington
This Week in Washington, a weekly publication of WPLLC, provides an overview of upcoming events in Washington D.C. affecting American Education. Please use the bookmarks below to navigate to your area of interest. MORE

Week of Dec. 14
This Week in Washington
There is nothing like a holiday to push the U. S. Congress to action. In organizing meetings in the House last week, new Chairmen were named for committees of keen interest to education advocates. As anticipated, Congressman John Kline (R-MN) will head the Committee on Education and Labor. Congressman Harold Rogers (R-KY) will take over the Chair of the Appropriations Committee. MORE

Week of Dec.8
This Week in Washington
Tuesday marked the third week of the Congressional lame duck session and it has been far from lame. Yesterday, the White House and Senate Republicans struck a tax deal that showed signs of an Administration humbled by the outcome of mid-term elections and a willingness to show voters they will play nice. This deal extends Bush-era tax cuts for two years and also temporarily gives Republicans their preferred estate tax rate. MORE

Week of Nov. 16

This Week in Washington

Monday marked the first week Congress has been in session since the mid-term elections took place, and the newly empowered Republican party has already begun to flex their muscles. Announcing his support yesterday for a bill that will ban earmarks for two years, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is known for being “an unapologetic earmarker,” stated the Senate may vote on the measure before the week is out. MORE
 

Week of October 11, 2010

This Week in Washington:

With the Congress in recess and Members at home in their states and districts campaigning, legislative activity on Capitol Hill has come to a grinding halt. In order to avoid a government shutdown, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution as their final act before heading out the door that will keep all federal agencies operating until December 3rd. This essentially provides all currently funded programs with the same amount of funding for the next two months that was provided in the previous fiscal year. MORE

Week of October 4, 2010

This Week in Washington:

There is nothing like a firm deadline and the chance to leave town to force the Congress to get their job done. After three short weeks of haggling and posturing, in the wee hours of September 30th, the last day of the FY2010, the House and Senate passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government operating until December 3rd. This act was vital, as not one out of the 12 budget bills for the Fiscal Year 2011 made it to President Obama's desk prior to the end of FY2010. With the fear of a government shutdown, compounded by the relentless polling information put forth by the media, Members of Congress up for re-election on November 2nd just couldn't get back to the campaign trail fast enough. MORE

Week of September 27, 2010

This Week in Washington:

Members of Congress want to get out of town and get home to campaign. That seems to be the bottom line. On Capitol Hill, the past two weeks have not been productive ones. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had hoped to begin deliberations on a Department of Defense (DOD) reauthorization bill last Tuesday that would have been a vehicle to move the Dream Act, which has been a longtime goal of many in Congress. Unable to muster a single Republican vote, and with the defection of two in his own party, that effort failed, and the Senate was left with time on their hands. In the House, a light schedule got even lighter as Members waited for the Senate to take some hard votes on the DOD bill or move on tax extender legislation. Neither came to fruition, so both bodies announced that what was a brief three-week legislative period set to end on October 8th would get even shorter. A new adjournment date of October 1st was announced. MORE

Week of September 20, 2010

This Week in Washington:

Lawmakers returned to Washington, DC last week after a six-week summer recess.  While they were gone, the rising temperature of the discussions of the state and prospects for the economy; the predictions related to the mid-term Congressional elections; the discussions around Bush-era tax cut extensions; and a number of other factors affected Congressional leadership’s plans for the legislative agenda for the remainder of the year.  With action on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education (ESEA) Act falling even further down on the list of Congressional “to-dos,” advocates will instead turn their efforts to complete the FY 2011 appropriations process, the potential for action on the America COMPETEs Act and other efforts that indirectly affect education.  MORE

Week of September 13, 2010

This Week in Washington:

While Capitol Hill remained quiet during a long Congressional recess which ended on Tuesday, the Department of Education (ED) did share some eagerly-awaited news with states and the education community shortly before Labor Day. On August 24, ED unveiled the ten winners in Phase Two of the Race to the Top (RTTT) competition. The winning states include the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island. MORE

Week of August 9, 2010

This Week In Washington:

After months of ongoing, prolonged and heated debates in the House and Senate, among education policymakers, between economists and elected officials at all levels, the Education Jobs package was signed into law today. The bill, which provides $10 billion to states to prevent teacher layoffs or to rehire teachers, was approved by the House yesterday, when Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called her colleagues back into session from their August recess. The measure passed the House on a vote of 247-161, and President Obama signed the bill at a White House ceremony today.  MORE 

Week of August 2, 2010

This Week In Washington:

Today many education advocates around the city were celebrating the fact that the Senate finally found enough votes to invoke cloture on an Education Jobs Fund amendment sponsored by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). The $10 billion amendment purports to save approximately 140,000 education jobs and also provides $16.1 billion to states for increased Medicaid FMAP funding to help states avoid massive layoffs and cuts to vital social services. The funding will be distributed to states by formula. According to Senator Murray’s office, “This funding will ensure our children are not bearing the burden of local budget shortfalls. It will keep class sizes down and make certain that students have access to crucial academic services such as librarians, afterschool programs, and assistance for students with disabilities.” MORE

Week of July 26, 2010

This Week In Washington:

On July 16 the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee met to mark up the fiscal year 2011 Appropriations Bill. While the allocations of many programs were not released during the markup a select few were revealed. The House Appropriations Committee is not expected to consider this mark, however, and fiscal year 2011 appropriation bills will not be revisited until after the elections in November, many House Members have stated. In the other chamber of Congress, the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee convened to markup the FY 2011 Appropriations Bill on Tuesday, July 27 and are expected to hold a full committee markup this Thursday. Unlike the House, the Senate released the allocations for a multitude of programs, though not all allocations are available to view.  MORE

Week of July 12, 2010

This Week In Washington:

Congress reconvened on Monday after its Independence Day recess, and the House of Representatives continued to take action marking up its appropriation bills. As part of the Emergency Supplemental which passed on July 1st, the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, John Spratt (D-SC), proposed a “budget enforcement resolution” – instead of a traditional budget resolution – and it passed the House by a vote of 215 – 210. While this “budget enforcement resolution” sets discretionary spending for Fiscal Year 2011 at $1.2 trillion, $7 billion less than President Obama’s budget proposal, it is unlike traditional budget resolutions because it does not outline where specifically these cuts should be made.  MORE

Week of June 14, 2010

This Week In Washington:

Congress has returned to the Nation’s Capitol following the Memorial Day Recess for what proved to be a very short work week.  Last Tuesday was an important primary election day in many states, so no real work was started until mid-week.  The results of the primary races were mixed, and pundits spent the rest of the week trying to make sense of them.  While little has happened in the way of floor debates, intense negotiating over the Jobs and Tax Extenders legislation and the FY 2010 Emergency Supplemental Spending bill continue.  The House has passed the former, and the Senate the latter, but neither bill was really satisfactory to either chamber. MORE

Week of June 7, 2010

This Week In Washington:

Last week, Members of Congress stayed home for a week-long recess to celebrate Memorial Day. Before the recess began, several important items on the legislative calendar were completed. The third time proved to be the charm for approving a bill to reauthorize the America COMPETEs Act (HR 5116). Though smaller and less generous in terms of funding than originally envisioned, the bill was hailed by STEM advocates as an important accomplishment of retiring House Science and Technology Committee Chairman, Bart Gordon (D-TN). Included in this issue is information on Budget and Appropriations, new Early Childhood Education Initiatives, Events and Publications. MORE

Week of May 31, 2010

This Week In Washington:

There is nothing like a pending holiday with the promise of parades, picnics and “politicking” that mark the Memorial Day Recess to spur the otherwise recalcitrant Senate into action.  All last week, the Senate was hard at work trying to move an emergency supplemental spending bill that will provide funds for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; the natural disasters that have plagued the nation of late; and other critical needs that can be paid for by printing money that is then added to the federal debt.  Unfortunately, the $23 billion Jobs for Education bill did not rise to that level of urgency. Included in this issue is information on Budget and Appropriations, new Early Childhood Education Initiatives, Events and Publications. MORE

Week of May 24, 2010

This Week In Washington:

The Senate debate on the Financial Services Reform bill finally ended last week.  After Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) effort to bring the bill to a final vote was at first stymied by absent Senators and disgruntled Democratic colleagues, and consideration of so many amendments and variations of amendments that many of them sounded like ones already considered, the bill finally passed Thursday night by a vote of 59-39.  Included in this issue is information on Budget and Appropriations, new Early Childhood Education Initiatives, Events and Publications. MORE

Week of May 17, 2010

This Week In Washington:

It continues to be a tumultuous week on Capitol Hill with little progress made on Congress’ long “to do” list. The heated debate on a financial reform package moves in fits and starts trying to get closer to the finish line.  Today Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) tried to end debate on the bill by calling for a cloture vote; however it failed by three votes so it will be at least another week before there is a final vote on the bill. In the House, an effort to reauthorize the once wildly popular America COMPETEs Act fell into contentious disarray two times, forcing Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) to pull the bill from the floor before a final vote even when changes were included in the bill requested by the Republicans. MORE

Week of May 10, 2010

This Week in Washington:

The Senate remained mired in financial reform legislation this week, and while they have made some progress on the bill, the end is not yet in sight.  At last count, there were over 500 filed amendments remaining to be considered, guaranteeing at least one more week of debate if not more.  Money talk in the House has focused on a tax extenders bill that Members hope to pass before the Memorial Day Recess so they will have some positive news to take home to constituents.  Included in this issue is information on Budget and Appropriations, new Early Childhood Education Initiatives, Events and Publications. MORE

Early Learning in ESEA overview

Week of May 3, 2010

This Week in Washington:

The news of the day was the surprising announcement by Representative David Obey (D-WI), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee as well as the Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee, that after 42 years in the U.S. Congress he will not seek re-election in November.  He went on to say that “I’m ready to turn the page, and I think, frankly, that my district is ready for someone new to make a fresh start.” Noting that when he was first elected to Congress, one of his three primary goals was to “expand federal support for education in order to expand opportunity for every American” he was pleased that in the last three years, “Congress has been able to move a large amount of federal resources to do just that.” Included in this issue is information on Budget and Appropriations, new Early Childhood Education Initiatives, Events and Publications.  MORE

Week of April 26, 2010

This Week in Washington:

Week of April 19, 2010

This Week in Washington:

April 15th –tax day—came and went without an FY 2011 Budget Resolution in sight. Conflicting reports have been circulating about whether Congress intends to pass a budget resolution or simply “deem” spending allocations to each appropriations subcommittee so they can get on with their work.  Included in this issue is information on Budget and Appropriations, new Early Childhood Education Initiatives, Events and Publications.  MORE

Week of April 12, 2010

This Week in Washington:

Congress returned to the Nation’s Capitol on Monday after a much-needed two week recess.  The long and contentious debate surrounding healthcare reform had frayed nerves and intensified partisan disagreements.  It is hoped that the next six week work period will be productive and somewhat friendlier, as the to-do list is long and the number of legislative days remaining on the calendar surprisingly short. Included in this update is information on Budget and Appropriations, ESEA Reauthorization and Early Childhood Education Events and Publications.   Education policy was front and center... MORE 

Week of March 29, 2010

This week in Washington:

After a round the clock effort, on the heels of a 12-month debate, the health care reform bill was signed last week and the reconciliation bill was signed yesterday.  As a result, Capitol Hill has been a pretty quiet place this week.  Members and staff have left the Capitol grounds for a much-needed two-week spring recess.  Although given the tension on the floor of the Congress during the debate, Members will likely be forced to continue the healthcare conversation with overheated constituents in their home states and districts this week... MORE

Week of March 15, 2020

This week in Washington:

Last week, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) joined his House counterpart George Miller (D-CA), Chair of the Education and Labor Committee, in announcing a series of seven hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and his intent to mark
up a bill by the end of May. At every turn there is mention of a bipartisan process to craft a new ESEA bill and as long as that is the goal, the reality of passing a bill may actually be achievable. Absent a bipartisan effort, the challenge of meeting such an ambitious timetable is enormous... MORE

Week of March 8, 2010

This Week In Washington:

i3 Updates: On Monday, March 8, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the Department of Education's final priorities for the $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund (i3).  The long-awaited announcement, coming five months after the proposed regulations for the i3 program were released in October of 2009, was accompanied by the release of the grant application, as well as an announcement regarding three informational workshops to be held in the coming weeks... MORE

Week of March 1, 2010

This Week In Washington:

Secretary Arne Duncan spent over two hours with the House Budget Committee last Thursday, and he faced a number of questions about the Department’s spending and reform plans. Areas of concern included the appropriate balance between federal and local policy decisions; how states will deal with the “funding cliff” they will face after all of the stimulus money is disbursed; and, whether some of the proposed program consolidations would dilute the intentions of the underlying programs...  More (PDF opens in new window)

Week of February 22, 2010

This Week In Washington:

The Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House Education and Labor Committee announced their intention to move forward with the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) this year. The Administration was particularly pleased by this announcement, as its education spending plan reflects a rewritten ESEA bill that will be hard for appropriators to consider if authorizing legislation is not written and passed in record time—six months, to be exact... More (PDF opens in new window)