[Tag-Info] FW: Federal Legislative Update (FYI)

Fri May 8 07:36:42 PDT 2009

  om: NAGC Advocacy [mailto:giftedsupporter at nagc.org]
Sent: Friday, May 08, 2009 6:38 AM
To: FIGGINS Stacey
Subject: Legislative Update

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What You Should Do Before May 12

Contact your Senators ** and ask them to co-sign the Dodd-Grassley appropriations letter requesting funds for the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act.

 *   Access your Senators' email address or online form at www.senate.org<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=171622841&sid=6509094&m=728008&u=NAGC&s=http://www.senate.org>
 *   Use education appropriations as the subject line, where possible
 *    Include a message such as, "The Javits program is the only federal initiative that focuses on ways to identify and serve the needs of gifted and talented students, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.  For more than 20 years the results of the research and demonstration grants funded through the Javits program have provided best practices for classrooms across the country."
 *   Where possible, include examples of how students have benefitted from the research and grants funded by the Javits program.
 *   **  note that 10 Senators have already co-signed the letter; Senators on the appropriations committee<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=171622841&sid=6509095&m=728008&u=NAGC&s=http://appropriations.senate.gov/members.cfm> may decline to co-sign.
 *   Click here to read the Dodd-Grassley letter<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=171622841&sid=6509096&m=728008&u=NAGC&s=http://attach/Senate%20ltr%20FY%202010.pdf>.

President Obama's Budget Excludes Javits Program

As you may know, President Obama's budget was sent to Congress yesterday. Unfortunately, the education budget did not include funding for the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education program.

Of course, we're disappointed that the President didn't support the program this year, especially considering that he did when he was in the U.S. Senate. Although the budget documents state that the president supports gifted and talented education, there is no indication of how he and the secretary of education intend to demonstrate that support. Know that NAGC will be working to persuade the administration to show their support in tangible ways.

IN THE MEANTIME, gifted education advocates will rely on the strategies that have served us well in the past. We'll take our case directly to Congress to ensure that the Javits program is funded in fiscal year 2010 and beyond.

IN THIS REGARD, we have the opportunity to send a strong signal to the Senate appropriations committee by securing additional Senators to join Senators Dodd & Grassley in requesting at least $11.25 million in funding for the Javits program in fiscal year 2010.

Originally, the letter to the appropriations committee was to be sent on April 24, but because of the delay in Congress receiving the president's budget, Senators Dodd (CT) and Grassley (Iowa) have extended the deadline to co-sign their letter to May 12.

NAGC urges you to take a moment in the next few days to email your senators, asking them to co-sign the Dodd-Grassley letter requesting $11.25 million for the Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act.  Click here <http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=171622841&sid=6509097&m=728008&u=NAGC&s=http://attach/Senate%20ltr%20FY%202010.pdf> to read the letter.

So far we have 10 Senators who have agreed to co-sign the Dodd-Grassley letter (see below), but we'd like to have many more to show the appropriations committee that there is real support for this small, but important program.  (Note that Senators on the appropriations committee<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=171622841&sid=6509098&m=728008&u=NAGC&s=http://appropriations.senate.gov/members.cfm> may decline to sign the letter, because the letter is directed to them.)

Senate email addresses (or online forms) are posted for all Senators at www.senate.gov<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=171622841&sid=6509099&m=728008&u=NAGC&s=http://www.senate.gov>. Use "education appropriations request" as your email subject line so that your message will be directed to the appropriate staff.

If you have used information developed by the National Research Center on the Gifted & Talented, or if your district or state has benefitted from participation in a Javits grant project, please be sure to include that information in your messages to the Senate. We need to let Congress know the myriad ways that the Javits program benefits students.

Thank you, your advocacy efforts will make a difference!

Senators Already Co-Signing the Dodd-Grassley Letter on the Javits Program

Blanche Lincoln (AR)
Joseph Lieberman (CT)
Richard Lugar (IN)
Frank Lautenberg (NJ)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Ron Wyden (OR)
Robert Casey (PA)
John D. "Jay" Rockefeller (WV)
Russell Feingold (WI)

National Association
for Gifted Children

1707 L Street, N.W. Suite 550
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 785-4268
Fax: (202) 785-4248
Email: giftedsupporter at nagc.org<mailto:giftedsupporter at nagc.org>
www.nagc.org<http://www.magnetmail1.net/ls.cfm?r=171622841&sid=6509100&m=728008&u=NAGC&s=http://www.nagc.org/>

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