CTC Appropriations in Holding Pattern
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Appropriations for CTCs-- currently tagged at $80 million under VA-HUD-- have not progressed since late summer. As of this writing, the Senate has only passed 7 out of its 13 spending bills, three just made it out of committee but have yet to be voted upon, and two have not made it out of committee. More significantly, only one-- Interior appropriations-- has actually been reported out of its House-Senate conference committee. No other appropriations bill has made it to House-Senate conference yet.
VA-HUD appropriations did pass both individual chambers over the summer, and each has already appointed conferees to meet on the bill, but the conference has not yet taken place. Both House and Senate versions do call for $80 million for CTCs. Since the fiscal year ended on 9/30/01, the federal government has been operating through continuing resolutions to fund its activities, first until 10/16, then 10/23, and another will come soon, until all spending bills have been passed.
In addition, this week Congress took time out, in the wake of anthrax scares, to ensure the safety of workers in congressional buildings. So a range of deliberation has been halted until at least next week. There has been, however, a broader tension in the Senate between Democrats who want to finish up the remaining spending bills, and Republicans who want to raise the issue of stalled judicial nominees.
read in fullU.S. Dept. of Education CTC Program Issues Request for Proposals
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
The U.S. Department of Education has announced a new round of grants under its Community Technology Centers program. Proposals are due July 16, 2001.
There is a reported US$32 million available for U.S. community technology centers under this program. Nearly 200 one-year grants, between US$75-300,000, are available for groups meeting the eligibility guidelines. The grants will be for one year. Cost sharing of 30 percent is required.
Eligible applicants include state and local educational agencies, tribal governments, colleges, libraries, and other public and private nonprofit or for-profit agencies. For the complete announcement, visit: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2001-2/053001a.html
Interested applicants are also encouraged to access technical assistance information available through the America Connects Consortium. The America Connects Consortium works to provide information, training, technical assistance, public attention, and new resources to U.S. community technology centers. It attempts to find and apply the best tools, techniques, and teaching methods available, and helps to bring together community technology stakeholders across different sectors.
read in fullSenate Votes on CTC Appropriations
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
On June 30, 2000, the Senate voted on its FY 2001 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill, amending the House bill, which includes the federal CTC program under the Department of Education.
The bill passed 52 to 43, and included the Senate Appropriations Labor, HHS and Education Subcommittee recommendation for funding Community Technology Centers at $65 million, which is double the amount requested by in the House bill, but $35 million less than the Department of Education's request of $100 million. The next step is is for the conference committee of the House and Senate to hammer out a final version of the bill which will then go to the President for his approval or veto.
The full table showing the House and Senate Subcommittee amounts for the Department of Education programs in Adobe PDF format online:
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/01hs.pdf
The status of appropropriations bills in Congress is available online:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/appover.html
House Votes on CTC Appropriations
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
On June 14, 2000, the House of Representatives voted on the FY 2001 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill, which includes the federal CTC program under the Department of Education. The bill passed 217 to 214. The bill included the House Appropriations Labor, HHS and Education Subcommittee recommendation for current-level for funding Community Technology Centers at $32.5 million, which is $67.5 million less than the Department of Education's request of $100 million. The Senate Appropriations Labor, HHS and Education Subcommittee is currently marking up its bill for a possible vote later in June.
The full table showing the House and Senate Subcommittee amounts for the Department of Education programs in Adobe PDF format online: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/01hs.pdf
The status of appropropriations bills in Congress is available online: http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/appover.html
read in fullBush FY 02 Budget and Community Technology Centers
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
The FY 02 budget proposes to shift the federal Community Technology Centers (CTC) program, housed under the US Department of Education's Office of Adult and Vocational Education, to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Community Development Block Grant program.
read in fullCTC Appropriations Move on the Hill
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Congress has returned to work this week, and among the many items on their plate are the 11 unfinished appropriations bills that must be passed before the scheduled adjournment date of October 6. On June 30, the Senate voted on its FY 2001 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations bill, which is where the Department of Education's CTC program funding rests. The Senate, voting 52 to 43 in favor of the bill, recommended funding for CTCs at $65 million.
read in fullSenate Authorizes Creation of 1,000 CTCs
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Last week the Senate took action to create 1,000 community technology centers (CTCs) to be funded through the Department of Education.
On May 9 the Senate approved, by a vote of 50-49, an amendment by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) to the Elementary and Secondary Education bill. The bill authorizes $100 million to go towards creating and expanding 1,000 CTCs. The education bill is expected to pass the Senate. and will await House action before a conference occurs.
read in fullCTCs Proposed Under VA-HUD Appropriations
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
On 7/30/01 the House passed its VA-HUD spending bill, on a roll call vote of 336-89. The Senate passed its VA-HUD appropriations bill on 8/2/01, by a roll call vote of 94-5. Both the House and Senate bills call for $80 million for community technology centers (CTCs), under the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program, in the form of grants to create or expand CTCs in high poverty urban *and* rural communities and to provide technical assistance to those centers.
read in fullCTCs Pass First Appropriations Hurdle
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
On May 10, 2000, the House and Senate Subcommittees on Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations did their markup of the FY 2001 appropriations for the Department of Education, which is where the federal CTC program rests. The House Subcommittee recommended current-level funding for Community Technology Centers at $32.5 million and the Senate subcommittee recommended $62.5 million. This is encourgaing news as it looks like the program will not get less than $32.5 this year. The House mark, however, identifies CTCs as an unauthorized program. Technically, Congress is not supposed to appropriate funds to programs that have no authorization (although this is regularly violated). The budget resolution requires the appropriations committees to provide this information.
The full table showing the House and Senate Subcommittee amounts for the Department of Education programs is available online in Adobe PDF format: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OUS/ 01hs.pdf
read in fullCTCs Pick Up Steam on the Hill
Feb 13, 2002 by Guest Blogger
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), and Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) were the first House members to explicitly put in a request for the $100 million for CTCs in their appropriations "wish lists," in support of the Clinton Administration's request.
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