Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2006 17:20:14 -0400 (EDT)
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Subject: Good News on Federal Appropriations Front
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The House Labor, Health and Human Services , Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee met this week and voted on their 2007 Appropriations numbers.  I am happy to tell you that they once again have voted to continue funding for the SE State Grant program.  They "level funded" the program, which means the appropriated amount is the same as we received for 2006 - $29.7 million. This is still down from the 2005 level, but given the current economic climate, level funding is a good thing.  We will continue to fight for more funding for SE in multiple venues, but we will take it one step at a time.

This bill has to be approved by the full Appropriations Committee and then by the full House.  The Senate appropriators will soon begin to work on their numbers.  I will get an alert out shortly with talking points for letters to the Senate.

Thanks for all the work you are doing to keep the SE issues before your legislators.  Your contacts are paying off.

To view the subcommittee recommendations for other programs in the Labor - HHS bill, go to http://appropriations.house.gov and click on the Labor, Health and Human Services , Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee.

Celane McWhorter

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