<div>Here are two updates on the Economic Stimulus package from the ALA Washington office. (<a href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/">http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/</a> )</div>
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<h3 class="entrytitle" id="post-1841"><a href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1841" rel="bookmark"><font color="#9e0508" size="3">To Senate: Keep Library, Education & Broadband provisions in Senate stimulus package </font></a></h3>
<div class="entrymeta">February 07th, 2009 | Category: <a title="View all posts in ALAWON" href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?cat=1" rel="category"><font color="#9e0508">ALAWON</font></a> </div>
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<p>UPDATE ON LATEST SENATE STIMULUS BILL: Saturday, 4:05 p.m.</p>
<p>The Senate has just finished a unique Saturday session with numerous floor statements from senators on both sides of the aisle. There has been no action on the floor since late last night. Good news: From what we can discern without being able to confirm specific language with Senate staffers, amendment 501 was DEFEATED last night. This amendment would have cut, from among other programs, $200 million in funding for libraries and community colleges for broadband deployment.</p>
<p>THANK YOU - library advocates. You all generated at least 1,000 calls/messages to senators to help save this funding. It was a tremendous effort in a very few hours - and it helped!</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it appears that there have been very troublesome changes to the education/library provisions in the bill. Without being able to obtain the actual language, we cannot confirm with any detail, what specific pieces were cut or eliminated.</p>
<p>Supporters - there is still much to do. We now need to generate more messages to ALL senators on the overall library, education and broadband provisions. We ask library supporters to continue to contact each of their senators (email, calls or faxes) between now and Tuesday. Watch here at District Dispatch and other news reports to see if the scheduled vote or other provisions change within the next couple of days.)</p>
<p>NEW MESSAGE FOR LIBRARY ADVOCATES TO ALL SENATORS: Keep all library, education and broadband provisions in the stimulus bill.</p>
<p>* Broadband is necessary to level the playing field in all communities and for people of all economic backgrounds and will spur economic recovery and promote new jobs.</p>
<p>* Libraries provide the public with unique, necessary and affordable information and online services related to job and career development, databases and other online information, and computer literacy training to help people apply for jobs and utilize e-government services, which are now often exclusively online.</p>
<p>* Libraries support local small businesses, distance learning and community development.</p>
<p>* Libraries are often the ONLY no-fee access to the internet in local communities - especially in rural areas.</p>
<p>* Where libraries have access to broadband, communities benefit because the public has access to the applications and services needed to function in the modern knowledge economy.</p>
<p>* The important library and broadband provisions of the stimulus bill can:<br>- create jobs to build out fiber and other broadband infrastructure;<br>- create jobs for manufacturers and others to supply broadband technology;<br>
- create new markets for affordable broadband;<br>- stimulate jobs in libraries, education and other community entities that will then also help the public find jobs, develop employment skills, etc.</p><a class="comments-link " title="Comment on To Senate: Keep Library, Education & Broadband provisions in Senate stimulus package" href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1841#respond"><font color="#9e0508">No comments </font></a></div>
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<h3 class="entrytitle" id="post-1835"><a href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1835" rel="bookmark"><font color="#9e0508" size="3">Day 4: Economic Stimulus Package Update </font></a></h3>
<div class="entrymeta">February 07th, 2009 | Category: <a title="View all posts in ALAWON" href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?cat=1" rel="category"><font color="#9e0508">ALAWON</font></a> </div>
<p class="entrybody">SENATE WORK ON STIMULUS PACKAGE CONTINUES. THERE ARE RUMORS THE SENATE WILL WORK THROUGH THE NIGHT. OTHER REPORTS SUGGEST THAT A "DEAL" HAS BEEN MADE. WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE COMING HOURS.</p>
<p class="entrybody">But - we want to say: Thank you! As you all know, today has been an extremely busy day for library advocates. In the course of two hours this afternoon , over 700 library activists called the Senate to ask them to vote NO on Senate Amendment 501. This doesn't count the other calls, e-mails and faxes that many of you also did. SA 501 was offered by Senators Conrad (D-ND) and Graham (R-SC) this afternoon could remove $200 million for broadband technology and divert the funds to the FDIC. Our work here is not yet done; if you haven't already done so please call your Senator and ask them to vote NO on S.A. 501.</p>
<p class="entrybody">The message is: keep the $200 million for libraries and broadband in H.R. 1 - defeat amendment 501. Libraries provide information on jobs, employment skills, and all other types of job-seeking information. More people are using libraries during these difficult times and the demand for broadband is greater than ever.</p>
<p class="entrybody">We will continue to monitor the Senate activities tonight and through the weekend if necessary. Debate on the economic stimulus package is expected to last well into the night and could even go through the weekend. Stay tuned; as we've stated before, the situation changes by the minute and the Washington Office will keep you updated on the latest news and alerts.</p>
<div class="entrybody"><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Diedre Conkling</div>
<div class="entrybody">Lincoln County Library District</div>
<div class="entrybody">P.O. Box 2027</div>
<div class="entrybody">Newport, OR 97365</div>
<div class="entrybody">Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066<br><a href="mailto:diedre08@gmail.com">diedre08@gmail.com</a><br></div></div></div>