Legislative Update Week of April 17, 2009
Date Posted: 04/17/2009
Week of April 17, 2009
Dear Friends:
Please read this email and share it with others in your network. It contains a brief Legislative and Administrative Update, a Call to Action, and an NHSA Update. Also note that NHSA's Legislative Updates will be on hiatus during our National Conference but will resume the week after the Conference. In the interim, join us in Orlando to learn the latest! (See below for details.)
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
April Recess
The House and Senate are in their District Work Periods (also known as "recess") from April 6 through April 17th. During this time, they will be back in their home districts handling matters. Congress resumes on April 20th.
Upcoming Actions to Watch For
When Congress resumes, look for action on the confirmation of HHS Secretary-designate Kathleen Sebelius (currently Governor of Kansas). In addition, over the coming weeks and months, NHSA will be working hard with you and for you to work towards our requested $1 billion increase for activities under the Head Start Act for FY 2010. Also, keep an eye out for how the Early Learning Challenge Grants take shape.
ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS
As we mentioned last Legislative Update, ACF published a recent PI with funding guidance for the COLA and Quality Improvement funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("ARRA") and the FY 2009 annual appropriation. We are still waiting for the Requests for Proposals ("RFPs") on Early Head Start Expansion and Head Start Expansion to be published. We are hearing this will occur soon, but we do not have any estimates on when exactly these will be published. Stay tuned!
CALL TO ACTION
If you haven't sent a thank you email or note to your Representatives who signed on to Representative Waters' (D-CA) Dear Colleague Appropriations Request Letter for $1 billion for Head Start in FY 2010, now is the time to do so.
The following Representatives comprise the final list of those who signed on to the Waters' letter: Abercrombie, Baldwin, Blumenauer, Carney, Castor, Clarke, Cleaver, Delahunt, Doyle, Etheridge, Fudge, Hare, Hirono, Kind, Kucinich, Massa, Meeks, Michaud, G. Moore, C. Murphy, Norton, Payne, Peters, Polis, Platts, Reichert, Ross, Rush, Sablan, Loretta Sanchez, Shea-Porter, Stark, Stupak, Sutton, Van Hollen, Wasserman Schultz, Wexler, C. Wilson, Wu.
If any of these are your Representatives or are from your state, please send a thank you email directly to them (to thank them for signing on to Congresswoman Waters' Head Start Appropriations request) by going to www.senate.gov or www.house.gov and clicking on your Senator or Representative's website. On each website, there is a contact or feedback form which will allow you to email them directly.
NHSA UPDATE
The National Conference is About to Occur: Don't Miss It!!!
NHSA is ready for our 36th annual National Training Conference, Beyond the Boundaries: New Approaches and New Strategies. There are special sessions on what the ARRA (or Recovery) funds mean for your program, how to operate your program in the post-Reauthorization era of the Head Start Act, and much more! Please go to https://www.nhsa.org/?e=events.detail&event_id=37 for more information and to register. Join us April 27th to May 2nd! Don't miss out! Airfares are low now, check them out. We're looking forward to seeing you!
Check Out NHSA Radio on Our New Homepage
NHSA's latest media resource provides Head Start parents and staff access to the latest insights in parenting, education, health, and child development. Check it out by scrolling down to the bottom of our new homepage: www.nhsa.org.
Upcoming Webinars
NHSA has teamed up with Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP to provide you with additional training opportunities. Join attorney Ted Waters for NHSA's Legal Advisory Service Webinars happening every month. He'll cover issues of importance to you and your Head Start program. Check out https://www.nhsa.org/services/professional_development/legal_advisory_service for topics, dates, and registration information. Make sure to register early!
DOLLAR PER CHILD
All the work that NHSA did on the ARRA and is doing on other current legislative efforts is paid for by Dollar Per Child funds. That's why we need you to continue to support the Dollar Per Child Campaign. Without a robust source of funds, NHSA can't lead the way in our advocacy efforts that benefit all Head Start programs. It is through these dollars that we can advocate for you and with you on your behalf. Don't wait. Please send your contributions, whatever amount you can afford, whether it is $1 per child, $5 per child, or $10 per child. You can even easily donate online on our new, improved website at: https://www.nhsa.org/get_involved/donate.
Dollar Per Child funds will ensure that NHSA can continue to lead the way in all of the future advocacy efforts coming up-from regulatory issues with the Office of Head Start, to additional fiscal year appropriations, to the next Head Start Act reauthorization which is not far off.
Please know that NHSA continues to work for you and with you on your behalf on matters of importance to the Head Start community.
This Legislative E-Update has been sent to Head Start Directors, the NHSA Board, Head Start State and Regional Association Presidents, Executive Directors, and Parents. Please share it with others in your network.