National Head Start Association

NHSA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND CALL TO ACTION

Week of March 16, 2009
 
Dear Friends:
 
Please read this email and share it with others in your network.  It contains a legislative update, an Administration update, an NHSA Update, and a Call to Action.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Wilson Bill Introduced to Provide Tax Deduction for Head Start Teachers
 
Kudos to the Ohio Head Start delegation!  In January at the NHSA leadership conference, leaders from the Head Start community met with their legislators on Capitol Hill.  At the meeting with the Ohio Head Start delegation, Congressman Wilson (D-OH-6) heard about programmatic concerns and wanted to do something for the Head Start community.  Within days, his staff began work on a new bill that was introduced on March 10th.  HR 1405 would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow Head Start teachers and aides the same above-the-line deduction for school supplies that is currently allowed for elementary and secondary school teachers.  To be eligible under this bill, Head Start teachers and aides must work for at least 700 hours in a school year.  The bill currently has 5 co-sponsors and was referred to the Ways and Means Committee.  To review a copy of this bill, please go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/ and type in “HR 1405” on the “bill number” search.  As with any bill introduced in Congress, to become law, HR 1405 would have to undergo further action in the House (markup and passage in committee, passage in the House), action in the Senate (introduction, committee markup and passage, passage in the Senate), and signature by the President.  See below for a call to action on this issue.

2010 Budget and Appropriations

It’s that time of year again!  Congress is beginning to work on the FY 2010 budget and appropriations.  The Budget Committees and Appropriations Committees will be working on determining funding amounts over the next few weeks.  President Obama is expected to release his detailed budget (including a request for Head Start) in April.  His budget plan, released a few weeks ago and highlighted in the March 2nd NHSA Legislative Update, includes language to build on the investments from the economic recovery package (“ARRA”) made in early childhood services, including Head Start, Early Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

In light of the substantial influx of funds through the ARRA for Head Start and Early Head Start for FY 2009 and FY 2010, NHSA is working with others in the early childhood community to re-evaluate our 2010 appropriations request and will keep you posted on next steps.

House Hearings on Early Childhood

 The House Education and Labor Committee has begun to hold hearings on early childhood issues in the 111th Congress.  Over the coming months, the Committee will likely consider President Obama’s idea of state early learning challenge grants, among other important topics.  For more information on the hearings (including panelists, testimony, and video), please see http://edlabor.house.gov/education/early-childhood/. 

Senate Appropriations Committee Announces Subcommittee Assignments

Recently, the Senate Appropriations Committee announced its subcommittee assignments for the 111th Congress.  The Labor, HHS, and Education Subcommittee now consists of the following:  Democrats -- Senators Harkin (Chairman), Inouye, Kohl, Murray, Landrieu, Durbin, Reed, and Pryor; Republicans -- Senators Specter (Ranking), Cochran, Gregg, Hutchison, Shelby, and Alexander.

ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS

Secretary of HHS

Still no word on when HHS Secretary-designate Sebelius will undergo confirmation hearings.  We hope that this will occur before the Senate recesses in April, but will keep you posted as we know more!

CALL TO ACTION:  CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RE: H.R. 1405

As explained above, Congressman Wilson recently introduced HR 1405.  Please contact your Members of Congress to sign on and support the bill.  Let’s ensure that Congress learns about this easy way for them to help support Head Start staff!

For Members of Congress, please go to www.house.gov and find your Representative’s website.  From there, you can send a direct email asking for them to sign on to co-sponsor HR 1405 to support Head Start staff in their districts. 

For Senators, please go to www.senate.gov and find your Senators’ websites.  On their sites, you can email directly and explain that HR 1405 has been introduced in the House to provide Head Start teachers the same above-the-line deduction for out-of-pocket school supplies as is already provided to elementary and secondary teachers in the Internal Revenue Code.  Ask them to review the legislation and introduce a companion bill in the Senate to support the Head Start staff in their state. 

NHSA UPDATE

Register Now for the National Conference in Sunny Orlando:  Don’t Miss It!!!

NHSA is gearing up for our 36th annual National Training Conference entitled Beyond the Boundaries:  New Approaches and New Strategies.  There will be 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 http://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!  We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Check Out NHSA’s New Website

NHSA’s new website is up!  Check it out at www.nhsa.org.  We’ve redesigned it to be much more user-friendly and hope you’ll find it to be of use.

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 http://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.