VICTORY on School Counseling Amendment in House Education Committee!

Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program

Bills to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program introduced by Representative Marge Roukema (R-NJ) as the Elementary and Secondary Counseling Improvement Act (H.R. 1508) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) as the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Improvement Act (S. 620) were incorporated, as amendments, into much larger education legislation--the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (H.R. 1).

A conference committee has been appointed to work out the differences in the House and Senate Versions. The Senate appointed Kennedy, Dodd, Harkin, Mikulski, Jeffords, Bingaman, Wellstone, Murray, Reed, Edwards, Clinton, Lieberman, Bayh, Gregg, Frist, Enzi, Hutchinson, Warner, Bond, Roberts, Collins, Sessions, DeWine, Allard and Ensign to the conference committee and the House appointed Boehner, Petri, Roukema, McKeon, Castle, Graham, Hilleary, Isakson, Miller, George, Kildee, Owens, Mink, Andrews, and Roemer.

The last meeting held by the Conference committee was September 25. Conferees are scheduled to meet again on October 23, but is unclear—even with pressure from President Bush—if a final compromise can be reached prior to adjournment.

QUICK CONTACTS Needed on School Counseling & Pupil Services Amendments on Senate Floor!

HOUSE

House Committee: On Wednesday, May 9, the House Education and Workforce Committee approved a revised version of H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act, by a vote of 41-7. The bill is scheduled to go to the House floor next week.

School Counseling Amendment: Prior to final passage, the Committee accepted, by voice vote, an amendment offered by Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ) to restore the Elementary School Counseling program to the bill. The amendment reauthorizes the current program and expands it to secondary schools. Many thanks to all who contacted their Representatives regarding the amendment or Rep. Roukema's original bill, the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Improvement Act (H.R. 1508). It was touch and go down to the wire, but our collective advocacy made a difference.

ACTION NEEDED

New Jersey constituents please thank Rep. Roukema for her tireless work on behalf of the program. Telephone: 202-225-4465; Email: rep.roukema@mail.house.gov.

House Floor: NASW is working with Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), a social worker, on an amendment to be offered during debate on H.R. 1 on the House floor. Floor action is expected to begin on Thursday, May 17. The amendment would provide funding, through a formula grant targeted at the most disadvantaged schools, to hire school social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists to provide a full range of "student support services." House rules often limit the number of amendments that can be offered, so it is possible that Rep. Lee may be denied the opportunity. Since a decision on amendments is not expected until late on Tuesday, May 15, contacts should be made just in case.

ACTION NEEDED

Urge your Representative to support the Lee amendment on student support services. Contacts should be made by close of business on Wednesday, May 16. All Representatives can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Direct line telephone numbers and email addresses can be accessed through NASW's new advocacy tool on the website: www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/congressweb.htm.

SENATE

Senate Floor: The Senate is in the midst of debating S. 1, the Better Education for Students and Teachers (BEST) Act. Further debate is expected the week of May 14, 2001. Close to 100 amendments are on the list for possible consideration. Not all of them may end up actually being offered.

School Counseling Amendment: Among the pending amendments is one sponsored by Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), which would restore a number of the small education programs to the bill, including the Elementary School Counseling program. Like Roukema's amendment, the Cochran amendment expands the program to secondary schools. However under the Cochran amendment, no funds would be awarded to secondary schools until the appropriation exceeded $60 million. This year's appropriation is $30 million.

Pupil Services Recruitment and Professional Development Amendment: Also pending is an amendment by Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), which would restore eligibility for pupil services personnel for professional development activities and allow local educational agencies to recruit "pupil services personnel" and "mental health counselors," along with teachers, if "deemed appropriate."

ACTION NEEDED

Contact your Senators and urge them to support the Cochran amendment to restore "Education Programs of National Significance," which include the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program, and to support the Voinovich amendment to restore eligibility for professional development and recruitment for pupil services personnel. Contacts should be made as soon as possible. Senate votes are expected to resume on Tuesday, May 15, but the Cochran and Voinovich amendments are not likely to be debated until later in the week. All Senators can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Direct line telephone numbers and email addresses can be accessed through NASW's new advocacy tool on the website: www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/congressweb.htm

ENSURE THAT THE VOICE OF SOCIAL WORK IS HEARD!

THANKS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY!

Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program

HOUSE ACTION