FEDERAL ALERT: CALL TO ACTION NOW!

Save Javits funding, the only federal funding for gifted education!

We ask for your immediate help. There is NO funding in President Obama’s budget for Javits for fiscal year 2010. As you know, funding levels for all federal agencies and programs are determined by the appropriations committees in the House and Senate.  However, the detailed work is assigned to 12 subcommittees and our focus will be on the members of the Labor, Health & Human Services and Education subcommittees, as they have the most influence on whether the Javits program is funded in fiscal year 2010.

The House appropriations subcommittee will likely finalize and send their fiscal year 2010 bill to the full appropriations committee before the July 4 Congressional recess.  This means that subcommittee members need to hear from their constituents in the next two weeks that the Javits program should be funded. 

The Senate subcommittee may also take action before the July 4 recess, so it is also important to reach these subcommittee members during June.  The Congress will return to Washington after July 4 for approximately 5 weeks before recessing again until after Labor Day.  Congress has much on its plate, and the calendar changes frequently, so the sooner we reach the key Members of Congress, the better. 

NAGC is sending a follow up letter to the appropriators next week emphasizing the value of the Javits program; the Legislative Action Network will receive a request today to contact their Members of Congress.  But, because this is the sole federal program for gifted children, I feel that it is imperative that all of us do whatever we can to ensure that the funding is retained.

If your Representative is a member of the House subcommittee, or you know of others who live in a subcommittee’s member’s district, please contact your Representative before June 12. If your Senator is a member of the Senate subcommittee, please contact him or her in support of the Javits program before June 19.  Please urge others in your state to do the same!  WE NEED YOUR HELP ASAP!

111th Congress
Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor-HHS-Education
 
House Appropriations Subcommittee

• David R. Obey, Chair (WI-7)
• Barbara Lee (CA-9)
• Michael Honda (CA-15)
• Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34)
• Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3)
• Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (IL-2)
• Betty McCollum (MN-4)
• Nita M. Lowey (NY-18)
• Tim Ryan (OH-17)
• Patrick J. Kennedy (RI-1)
• James P. Moran (VA-8)
• Todd Tiahrt, Ranking Member (R-KS-4)
• Jo Bonner (AL-1)
• Jerry Lewis, ex officio (CA-41)
• Rodney Alexander (LA-5)
• Dennis R. Rehberg (MT- At Large)
• Tom Cole (OK-4)

 
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

• Tom Harkin (IA), Chair
• Mark Pryor (AR)
• Daniel Inouye (HI)
• Richard Durbin (IL)
• Mary Landrieu (LA)
• Arlen Specter (PA)
• Jack Reed (RI)
• Patty Murray (WA)
• Herb Kohl (WI)
• Thad Cochran, Ranking Member (R-MS) 
• Richard Shelby (AL)
• Judd Gregg (NH)
• Lamar Alexander (TN)
• Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)

All Members of Congress may be reached via email or web-based mail on their office website.  Access these website at www.house.gov or www.senate.gov.

Please see below for message points for your member of congress!

Our message to these critical Members of Congress is
•    the Javits program is the only federal program that supports the learning needs of America’s three million academically gifted and talented students
•    the Javits program funds research and demonstration projects that have resulted in ‘best practices’ to identify and meet the needs of gifted children, especially those from underserved backgrounds (including low income, limited English proficient, minority children, and those with disabilities)
•    if the nation is to be competitive in the 21st century, we need to recognize and support advanced students; the best practices from the Javits act informs school leaders on how best to work with this special population of learners
•    The Javits program should receive at least $11.25 million in fiscal year 2010

PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW! CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSMEMBER OR SENATOR! LET THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THE JAVITS FUNDING IS!