National Coalition for Literacy » Legislative Updates http://blog.ncladvocacy.org Advocating for public policies that support adult literacy Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:56:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 In Case You Missed It: The Education Week in Review http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/in-case-you-missed-it-the-ed-week-in-review/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/in-case-you-missed-it-the-ed-week-in-review/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:03:40 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=5192 —Weekly Recap on Education Policy and Advocacy

State of the Union Address, Presidential Elections, Budget and Appropriations, House Adult Literacy Caucus Briefing, Unemployment Insurance (UI) Extension, ESEA Reauthorization, and Raising the Debt Ceiling

By Ellen Fern and Jackie Taylor

State of the Union Address

Both chambers of the Congress were in Washington this week following an extended recess. President Obama greeted them with a lengthy State of the Union (SOTU) address that was—not surprisingly—praised by Democrats and panned by Republicans. Now…

]]> http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/in-case-you-missed-it-the-ed-week-in-review/feed/ 0 You Did It! Elevating Adult Education & Family Literacy During SOTU http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/you-did-it-elevating-adult-education-family-literacy-during-sotu/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/you-did-it-elevating-adult-education-family-literacy-during-sotu/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:18:00 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=5111 Thank you to everyone who got involved with the State of the Union Address for adult education and family literacy! On Tuesday, January 24, the National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) was invited to the White House to tweet live during the State of the Union (SOTU) address and participate in an interactive, open questions event with senior administration officials afterwards. We had the chance to ask questions about the speech and share questions from our followers on Facebook and ]]> http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/you-did-it-elevating-adult-education-family-literacy-during-sotu/feed/ 0 National Coalition for Literacy Reports Live from the White House During SOTU http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/national-coalition-for-literacy-reports-live-from-the-white-house-during-sotu/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/national-coalition-for-literacy-reports-live-from-the-white-house-during-sotu/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:52:07 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=5098 —Submit Your Questions for Senior Administration Officials During the State of the Union Address

This Tuesday, January 24, President Obama will present his 2012 State of the Union (SOTU) Address . The National Coalition for Literacy (NCL) will be at the White House tweeting live during the SOTU and participating in an interactive, open questions event with senior administration officials afterwards. We’ll have the chance to ask questions about the speech and share questions from our followers on Facebook and Twitter.

This is a unique opportunity for adult education advocates…

]]> http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/national-coalition-for-literacy-reports-live-from-the-white-house-during-sotu/feed/ 1 State of the Union Address—Official Kickoff of the Budget and Appropriations Season http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/state-of-the-union-address%e2%80%94official-kickoff-of-the-budget-and-appropriations-season/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/state-of-the-union-address%e2%80%94official-kickoff-of-the-budget-and-appropriations-season/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:49:54 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=5090 —A Budget and Appropriations Update

By Washington Partners

Next Tuesday evening President Obama officially kicks off the budget and appropriations season and his re-election campaign with his State of the Union Address.  In his remarks he will not only provide his assessment of where we stand as a nation, but also outline his legislative and spending priorities for the coming year.  Given the tone of his recent remarks about the Congress and the fact that their approval rating hovers at nine percent, well below his, you can expect a combative speech, critical…

]]> http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/state-of-the-union-address%e2%80%94official-kickoff-of-the-budget-and-appropriations-season/feed/ 0 Going Against Common Sense: Denying Undereducated Workers UI Benefits http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/going-against-common-sense-denying-undereducated-workers-ui-benefits/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/going-against-common-sense-denying-undereducated-workers-ui-benefits/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:28 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=5043 Congress will soon continue its debate on the extension of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits—but it may include a provision that’s alarming Americans nationwide.

House Republicans are expected to once again push for a condition that would “…deny UI benefits to any worker who lacks a high school diploma or GED and is not enrolled in classes to get one or the other—regardless of how long the person worked or whether he or she has access to adult education,” according to a recent report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).…

]]> http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2012/01/going-against-common-sense-denying-undereducated-workers-ui-benefits/feed/ 2 December Public Policy Advocacy Updates http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/12/december-public-policy-advocacy-updates/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/12/december-public-policy-advocacy-updates/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:19:41 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=4861

By Ellen Fern and Jackie Taylor

In this month’s update, learn more about the status of the budget and appropriations process for FY2012 and what this means for adult education; find updates and breaking news on extending Unemployment Insurance (UI) employment benefits and how it may impact undereducated workers, new jobs legislation that includes adult education, and see more progress made on WIA reauthorization in the House.

  • Budget and Appropriations
  • UI Alert
  • WIA Reauthorization
  • Pathways Back to Work Act
  • Adult Literacy Advocacy – What this means for you

http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=4822 By Washington Partners

With the clock ticking toward December 16th, which is when the current continuing resolution that is keeping government funds flowing is set to expire, little progress was made last week on a FY 2012 budget plan.  Appropriations Committee conferees met on Thursday, just long enough to make opening statements and make public a widely known secret, that of the nine unfinished spending bills, the troublemakers were Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) and Interior.

For LHHS, the issues are both funding and so-called policy riders.  The key funding issue…

]]> http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/12/public-policy-updates-3/feed/ 0 Public Policy Updates http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/12/public-policy-updates-2/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/12/public-policy-updates-2/#comments Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:46:27 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=4801 By Washington Partners

Rumor has it we are going to hear a word spoken on Capitol Hill in the next few weeks that we haven’t heard in a while.  That word is yes.  It appears the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives, after months of saying no to any kind of compromise with Democrats, and Democrats similarly recalcitrant about working across the aisle, may come together to finish the pressing legislative business before the Congress in time for the holidays.  There are of course many opportunities for yes to turn into no in the world…

]]> http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/12/public-policy-updates-2/feed/ 0 Public Policy Updates http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/11/public-policy-updates/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/11/public-policy-updates/#comments Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:47:14 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=4729 By Washington Partners

Budget and Appropriations

Though the House was in recess this week, Members of the Super Committee were meeting around the clock to try to reach agreement on a debt reduction proposal before the approaching November 23rd deadline.  From outside, it appears that discussions have reached a stalemate, despite assertions that “progress is being made” from the Committee leadership.  Pressure is mounting, however, and lobbying from all sides to protect interests that, rumor has it, are on the chopping block is in full swing.

Another fast-approaching deadline is the November…

]]> http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/11/public-policy-updates/feed/ 0 Budget and Appropriations Update http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/11/budget-and-appropriations-update-6/ http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/2011/11/budget-and-appropriations-update-6/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:42:34 +0000 Jackie Taylor http://blog.ncladvocacy.org/?p=4717 By Washington Partners, Public Policy Consultants of the National Coalition for Literacy

The separate work schedules for the House and Senate make a week when everyone is in town a rarity.  It happened last week, and finally there was progress on the FY 2012 appropriations front.  The budget is by no means decided, but the Senate did succeed in passing a so-called “minibus”—a bill that would fund several government agencies.  The bill passed on a vote of 69-30, vindicating Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) strategy to move forward.  House Republicans had questioned the minibus strategy, but…

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