Important Issue: ALAWON, Vol. 3, No. 1

[Peter Milbury <pmilbur@EIS.CALSTATE.EDU>]

Dear LM_NET Colleagues,

   The following issue of ALAWON deals with important legislation directly
related to our school library media programs.  I would strongly suggest a
careful reading of the document, and taking the action recommended,
namely:  Contact your elected representatives to see that school libraries
receive continued federal support, which is in danger of being lost!

Peter
..............................................................
Peter G. Milbury        Library Media Teacher / Mentor Teacher
Co-owner of LM_NET:  The School Library Media Discussion Group
pmilbur@eis.calstate.edu       ~       Voice/Fax: 916-891-3060
Pleasant Valley High School, 1475 East Avenue, Chico, CA 95926
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 1994 14:39:10 -0500
From: ALA Washington Office <alawash@alawash.org>
To: Multiple recipients of list ALA-WO <ALA-WO%UICVM.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: ALAWON, Vol. 3, No. 1

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                                                             ISSN 1069-7799
                                  ALAWON
                      ALA Washington Office Newsline
                     An electronic publication of the
              American Library Association Washington Office

                            Volume 3, Number 1
                              January 3, 1994

   In this issue: (234 lines)
     WRAP-UP ON TECHNOLOGY AND NETWORKING BILLS
     WRAP-UP ON EDUCATION BILLS

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                WRAP-UP ON TECHNOLOGY AND NETWORKING BILLS

NETWORKING APPLICATIONS BILLS

Bills to follow up the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 by
authorizing applications of networking technology in education, health
care, libraries, and government information passed the House and came close
to floor action in the Senate just before adjournment.  Action in the
Senate will resume in the 1994 session.

The House passed H.R. 1757, the National Information Infrastructure Act of
1993, in July.  The bill defines the National Research and Education
Network as a program with three components: (1) networking research and
development, (2) experimental test-bed networks, and (3) network access
support.  Network applications would be supported for education, especially
K-12, health care, libraries, and government information.  A connections
program at the National Science Foundation would foster local networks in
communities for connecting colleges and schools, libraries, museums, and
state and local governments to each other and connecting these entities (or
organizations representing these entities) to the Internet.  H.R. 1757 also
includes programs to train teachers, students, librarians, and government
personnel.  H.R. 1757 was supported strongly by ALA, and by a variety of
other groups and constituencies.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved S. 4,
the National Competitiveness Act, in May and issued its report (S. Rept.
103-113) in July.  Title VI of S. 4 would establish an Information
Technology Applications Research Program comparable to H.R. 1757's
provisions.  (Another House-passed bill, H.R. 820, the National
Competitiveness Act, is comparable to titles I-V of S. 4.)

Title VI of S. 4 would promote the development of high-performance
computing and networking technologies in education, manufacturing, health
care, libraries, and government information dissemination.  S. Rept. 103-
113 notes that "new ways can be developed to use high-speed computer
networks to link high schools and elementary schools so that teachers and
students can communicate with their colleagues around the country, access
digital libraries of information, and consult with outside
experts....Advanced supercomputers and networks could allow a local library
or school to have access to the holdings of the Library of Congress."  The
digital libraries application of S. 4 includes a component called
electronic libraries in the states which is clearly taken from Sen. Robert
Kerrey's (D-NE) S. 626, the Electronic Library Act.

S. 4 as approved by the Senate committee also contains language prohibiting
federal support of data communications networks operated by governmental
entities, and making it difficult for library and education networks and
state library and education agencies to obtain federal funds to support
network connections and services for libraries and schools.  The library,
education, and research communities opposed this language and urged the
substitution of more flexible language from H.R. 1757.

This approach seemed on track for a while, but Senate action on S. 4 was
delayed due to other differences of opinion, including how much direction
should be given to federal agencies in the application areas.  Despite the
fact that the legislation originated in the last Congress with then-Senator
Gore, the Clinton Administration was pushing for a revised title VI with
brief authority but no congressional direction for demonstration projects
in education, health care, libraries, and other areas.  A number of
versions of title VI were drafted; the version cleared for floor action was
a compromise that was neither a bare-bones approach nor as detailed as H.R.
1757.  However, time ran out, and the first session adjourned without
Senate action on S. 4.

NTIA PILOT PROJECTS

The House passed by voice vote on November 8 a bill (H.R. 2639) to
authorize a new Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Program
in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration at the
Department of Commerce.

The NTIA matching grants authorized under H.R. 2639 could be used to assist
health care providers, educational institutions, research facilities,
libraries, museums, state and local governments, and other social service
and public information providers to connect to networks and gain access to
existing and new sources of information.  Projects are also to foster
interoperability standards, improved delivery of social services, and
universal availability and use of an advanced telecommunications and
information infrastructure, especially for traditionally underserved
populations.

NTIA funds would normally not exceed 50 percent of the cost of a project,
but could be up to 75 percent in "extraordinary circumstances," and up to
100 percent of the cost of planning grants or studies.  Training expenses
are specifically eligible for assistance.  Projects are to utilize
commercially available network services to the extent that such services
meet applicant needs in the most efficient and economical manner, and must
comply with regulations designed to prevent applicants from using
commercial resale of excess capacity to compete unfairly with providers of
telecommunications services.  Regulations are to provide a preference for
projects that increase utilization and efficiency of existing
telecommunications and information facilities.

The bill would authorize $100 million for FY95 and $150 million for FY96.
Congress appropriated $26 million in FY94 for this program, but
implementation (other than planning grants) must await Senate action on
H.R. 2639.

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                        WRAP-UP ON EDUCATION BILLS

ESEA REAUTHORIZATION

The Improving America's Schools Act of 1993 (H.R. 3130), the
Administration's proposal for reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act, was introduced on September 23, but the House
el/sec education subcommittee postponed action on the bill until the second
session.  The Senate has not yet begun work on ESEA reauthorization, but
Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
introduced the Administration's proposal as S. 1513 on October 4.

H.R. 3130 would make major changes to the Chapter 1 program of aid to
disadvantaged schoolchildren and extend the program for ten years, while
extending other ESEA programs for five years.  The bill includes no
specific provisions relating to school library media centers or school
library resources.  The Chapter 2 school block grant, which can be used for
school library resources as well as other purposes, would not be continued.
In its place would be a teacher training program (a new title II, Improving
Teaching and Learning).  This proposed change has caused concern on the
part of many elementary and secondary education groups, as well as library
groups, since the proposal would eliminate the current seven uses for the
Chapter 2 block grant funds.

Under title III, Expanding Opportunities for Learning, Part A--Putting
Technology to Work for All Students--H.R. 3130 says that "technology can
provide students, parents, teachers, and other education professionals with
increased access to information, instruction, and educational services in
schools and other settings, including homes, libraries, preschool and
child-care facilities, and postsecondary institutions".  Any grants for
state programs in this section will require matching funds, either "cash or
in-kind contributions, fairly valued."  Authorization levels for this
section would be "such sums" as necessary.

SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA ACT

The list of cosponsors to H.R. 1151 and S. 266, the Elementary and
Secondary School Library Media Act, continues to grow, with 59
Representatives signed on and ten Senators.  The ALA Washington Office
continues to get blind copies of letters requesting legislators to
cosponsor.

To ensure that these bills are incorporated in larger legislation such as
ESEA reauthorization, it is necessary to enlarge the grassroots effort.
Create coalitions by working with local PTAs as well as members of other
community groups to request cosponsors.  The November 1993 issue of _School
Library Journal_ has a series of excellent articles about the legislation,
and includes Valerie Wilford's July 21 testimony for ALA's American
Association of School Librarians on a technology bill, S. 1040.  No further
action has been taken on S. 1040 since then.

GOALS 2000

The Goals 2000: Educate America Act, which aims to improve learning and
teaching by providing a national framework for education reform, is the
Administration's top priority education proposal.  The legislation passed
the House on October 13 as an amended version of H.R. 1804, but the Senate
version (S. 1150) became embroiled in a controversy over proposed state
opportunity-to learn standards.  A redrafted bill, retaining the national
standards but eliminating the state standards, was being prepared at the
end of the session.

During this process, Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL) sought support from
ALA and other groups to incorporate, in an amendment to the proposed new
version of S. 1150, the following language: "the extent to which school
facilities provide a safe and secure environment for learning and
instruction and have the requisite libraries, laboratories, and other
resources necessary to provide an opportunity to learn..."

The new bill has not yet been introduced, but the Senate has agreed to take
it up on January 25.  According to her staff, Senator Moseley-Braun still
intends to offer the amendment in the second session.  Appropriations for
the Goals 2000 legislation were approved at $105 million for FY94 and will
be available if the bill is enacted by April 1.

OERI REAUTHORIZATION

H.R. 856, the legislation which would reauthorize the Department of
Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), was
approved by the House Education and Labor Committee (H. Rept. 103-209) and
passed the House on August 2.  The Senate Labor and Human Resources
Committee on November 16 approved its version (S. 286, S. Rept. 103-183),
and also approved H.R. 856.  No further action was taken by the Senate.

Both bills would renew and amend the educational research activities of the
Department, improve dissemination of research results, reauthorize the ERIC
(Educational Resources Information Center) system, and establish a National
Education Library.

The Senate report on S. 286 states "The Committee has been very concerned
that research and development supported by OERI is often isolated and
fragmented, and as a result, not used to its fullest potential.  S. 286
requires that the long-term agenda be designed to serve as a six year
projection of the goals and direction of OERI.  The agenda should create a
cohesive and integrated strategy for promoting educational excellence."

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