Major K-12 Education Bill on Senate Floor: Feinstein to offer Data Update
Amendment -- Bulletin No. 1 -- July 28, 1994
The Senate is now debating S.1513, which reauthorizes the federal elementary
and secondary education support programs. Senator Feinstein plans to offer
an amendment Thursday evening or Friday to require the production and use
of updated census poverty data in these programs. Currently, the "Chapter
One" program -- the largest federal education program and the fourth
largest federal formula grant -- is based on poverty data which Census collects
only every ten years, disadvantaging growing states such as California.
The California Institute has supplied data to Senator Feinstein's staff
on state-by-state effects of data updating.
Funding for Incarceration of Illegal Immigrants
The Senate Commerce, Justice Appropriations bill allocates $350 million, through
the State Criminal Aliens Assistance Program (SCAAP) established under the
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, to reimburse the states for the
costs of incarcerating illegal aliens. The amendment was offered in the Senate
by Sens. Kay Hutchison (TX) and Robert Dole (Minority Leader) and passed 52-44.
The amendment was cosponsored by Sen. Diane Feinstein. Sens. Robert Byrd and
Ernest Hollings (Chairmen of the full Appropriations Committee and the Commerce,
Justice Subcommittee, respectively) oppose the amendment. The funding level
agrees with the President's request for $350 million. The House version of the
Appropriations bill does not contain similar language. Instead the House would
allow formula grants made under the Byrne Law Enforcement Assistance program to
be used for incarceration costs. The Senate bill, as reported by the
Appropriations Committee, allows the Attorney General in her discretion to use
Community Policy Program (i.e., Cops-on-the-Beat) funds for the same purpose.
The House and Senate versions of the bill must now be melded in Conference.
The California Institute is working with Sens. Feinstein and Hutchison to retain
the $350 million as a separate allocation for these costs. That at least sets
the precedent for future years that the SCAAP program be funded. (Although
established in 1986, money has never been appropriated.)
Also, the Conference Report on the Crime Bill -- expected to move to the House
floor on Friday -- authorizes $1.8 billion for the federal government to
reimburse states for the costs of
incarcerating illegal aliens. The bill authorizes $300 million per year for 6
years, beginning October 1, 1994. Because these funds are authorized but not yet
appropriated, it is critical that that the Commerce-Justice appropriations bill,
which will go to conference in the next few days, includes funding for
incarceration of undocumented felons.
GATT
The Administration has stated it hopes to introduce the GATT bill by August 1
and have it voted on in both houses before the August 12 recess. Many think this
timeframe is unrealistic. Labor and environmental groups are gearing up to fight
the provisions on the World Trade Organization established under GATT. They fear
that it will diminish U.S. ability to pass and/or enforce strong labor and
environmental laws, because a foreign country could argue that implementation
creates unfair trade practices. The California World Trade Agency (part of the
State's Department of Commerce) is finishing up an evaluation of the beneficial
effects that GATT would have on California trade. This report should be out
shortly, but the bottom line is that most sectors of California's economy will
gain under GATT.
50% Cut in University Research Reversed in Senate -- Differences to be
Resolved in Conference
California would be badly hurt by the 50% cut in DoD University Research
proposed by House Defense Appropriations Chair John Murtha (PA). Murtha's bill
would cut from university research from $1.8 billion to $900 million. At stake
in California are over $200 million just among the state's major research
universities. Fortunately the Senate Appropriations Committee bill would restore
most of those funds. Assuming no changes on the Senate floor, the differences
will be resolved in conference, and it is hoped that the Senate's restoration of
funds can prevail. The California Institute has been working with California's
research universities -- U.C., Stanford, CalTech, and U.S.C. -- on this issue
and has kept the delegation apprised of developments. The full Senate
Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet to mark up the Defense bill
tomorrow (7/29) at 2:30 p.m.
Fusion Energy Research Funding
The House Science Committee will hold a hearing on fusion legislation next
Tuesday (8/2) and will mark up its bill Wednesday (8/3). The bill, sponsored by
Committee Chairman George Brown of California, would specify commitment to and
participation in the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor)
whose initial research phases are now underway in San Diego. It is hoped that
Californians on the committee will help defeat an effort to cut fusion funding
by Rep. Dick Swett of New Hampshire, who has made similar attempts in recent
weeks. The Institute has provided fax alerts to the Congressional delegation on
this issue.
Bulletin No. 1 -- July 28, 1994