June 1, 2006

Currently, House and Senate leadership are in negotiations regarding the FY2007 budget resolution. While an agreement on a final resolution may not be possible, it is very likely that both the House and Senate will still set their own spending limits for 2007 when they return to Washington the Week of June 5. Setting these limits at an adequate level so that funding for education isn’t cut will be critical to efforts to get funding for the Perkins Loan Federal Capital Contribution and Loan Cancellation accounts.

When the Senate originally passed its budget resolution in March, it included an additional $7 billion in funding for education, health and workforce programs, which are funded as part of the same appropriations bill. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) is leading the effort to ensure that this $7 billion is retained in the final spending limits. Senator Snowe is seeking signatures from other senators on a “Dear Colleague” letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Chairman of the Appropriations Committee Thad Cochran (R-MS) supporting the $7 billion. The letter is attached.

COHEAO asks all members to call their Senators and ask them to sign on to Senator Snowe’s Dear Colleague letter regarding health, education and workforce funding. Please pick up the phone and make a call to your two senators today.

A list of Senators and their contact information can be found at: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

If you have any questions, contact Harrison Wadsworth (hwadsworth@wpllc.net), Andrew Stringer (astringer@wpllc.net) or call 202-389-3910.

Andrew Stringer
Legislative Associate
Washington Partners, LLC
(P) 202-289-3903
(F) 202-371-0197
astringer@wpllc.net