ACTE Legislative Alert: President Vetoes FY 2008 Education Appropriations Bill

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November 14, 2007

Last Thursday, November 8, 2007, the House and Senate approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill, and sent it to the President for his approval. As expected, the President vetoed the bill on Tuesday, November 13. ACTE expects the bill to go back to the House Thursday evening where a vote to override or sustain the veto will take place. If the override passes by a 2/3 vote, the bill will move on to the Senate where another 2/3 vote will be required to successfully override the President’s veto. If the veto is overridden in the House and Senate, the bill immediately becomes law. If there are not enough votes to override the President’s veto, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittees will have to start over on drafting an Appropriations bill.

In order to keep the $25 million increase for the Perkins program that is included in the current bill approved by Congress, it is extremely important that the House and Senate have enough votes to override the Presidential veto. Not only does the Perkins program risk losing the $25 million, it could become vulnerable to across–the-board cuts if the Appropriations Subcommittee has to draft a new bill. It is even possible that the Perkins program could be cut below its current level of funding. The $25 million included in the current bill that the President vetoed is the first significant increase for the program in 6 years. Elimination of the increase in the final bill would mean no new federal funding for professional development, equipment, or any other supports that the appropriation provides.

If your Representative or Senator has not been supportive of the bill or has not voted, it is extremely crucial that you rally your community and contact your Representative and Senators’ office and ask them to vote to override the President’s veto on the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill to put the $25 million increase in Perkins into law.

TAKE ACTION!

Rally parents, students, alumni, business leaders, and other CTE advocates in your community to also contact your Representative and Senators.
When you call the office, please ask to speak to the staff member who handles education.
Be sure to reference H.R. 3043 and to say that included in this bill is a $25 million increase for Perkins Basic State Grants.
Ask for your Members of Congress to vote “Yes” on H.R. 3043 to help successfully override the President’s veto.
Highlight key students and other aspects of your program that make it a vital part of your community and state.
Provide statistics and other facts on Perkins in your state and district. Please see ACTE’s Web site for some resources.
Please share all of the possible consequences if there are not enough votes to override the veto with your Representative and Senator.
If your Member of Congress says they cannot support the bill because of the large spending increases or “earmarks” (district specific projects), please mention that this bill has substantially fewer “earmarks” than past bills and that the funding increases are critical to make up for several years of cuts and level funding to programs serving your community.
Invite your Member of Congress and the education staff member to your program so they can see first hand how CTE is making a positive impact on your district and state, especially if you are having a very difficult time getting their support.
Please keep a positive attitude and always thank the Member of Congress or staff member for his or her time, and be sure to leave your contact information.
Please contact Jamie Baxter, Advocacy Associate, for any additional information or to report back on what your Representative or Senators’ office said.