• Congress Suspends Business to Honor Reagan
• FY ¹05 Budget Update
• Kerry Taps Ogle to Advise on Disability Issues
• More Information on OSERS Nominee
• Department of Education Funding Opportunities
• Theme for Disability Awareness Month Announced

Congress Suspends Business to Honor Reagan

The House and Senate have put aside their scheduled business this week to observe a period of national mourning and participate in the state funeral for the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Congress will reconvene on Monday.

FY ¹05 Budget Update

The full House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved Chairman Young¹s (R-FL) 302 (b) subcommittee allocations. The Committee approved a few program shifts between the Defense and Energy and Water subcommittees. However, the overall discretionary allocation remains the same at $821.4 billion, and the House Labor, HHS and Education subcommittee¹s allocation is still $142.3 billion.

Ranking Member Obey (D-WI) offered an amendment at the full committee markup to increase the overall discretionary allocation by $14 billion, but the amendment was rejected by a vote of 27-34.

The House Appropriations Committee also reported the Homeland and Interior Appropriations bills yesterday, which are scheduled for floor action next week. The Defense bill will be marked up on the 15th and may hit the floor the week of the 21st.

Senate Majority Leader Frist (R-TN) is making a last attempt to reach a deal on the FY Œ05 budget resolution. Part of the deal would be to exclude the reconciliation instructions for the $27.5 billion in tax extensions scheduled to expire later this year in the conference report and attach the tax extensions to a tax bill currently in conference.

Reportedly, Senate Appropriations Chairman Stevens (R-AK) has proposed to hold out on pet projects for the moderate Republican holdouts, should they reject the final FY Œ05 budget conference report.

Kerry Campaign names Becky Ogle as Senior Advisor of Disability Issues

Note: CEC is bipartisan and does not endorse any candidate running for government office. We are sharing the candidates¹ positions on special education and disability issues for your information only.

On June 4, John Kerry for President announced Rebecca "Becky" Ogle as the senior advisor on disability issues. Ogle will be charged with advising the Kerry campaign on all issues related to disability and disability outreach. Ogle, a seasoned 15-year veteran of presidential campaigns and Democratic Conventions, has been a senior disability advisor to the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton-Gore Administration.

"Today's announcement signifies another step forward in our plan to construct a campaign team that is diverse, talented and looks like America," said Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill. "Becky possesses an incredible amount of energy and commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities are involved in all aspects of our campaign. I am counting on her to advise us in ways to reach voters with disabilities."

The disability vote has sometimes been referred to as the "sleeping giant" of American politics. There are an estimated 36 million voting-age Americans with disabilities and the Kerry campaign is working diligently to gain their support.

"We understand the importance of the disability community in this election and will not take them for granted," said Cahill. "Having Becky on the team will help us energize these voters to support John Kerry, because he is the best man for people with disabilities, their families and friends.

For more information, go to: http://www.johnkerry.com/

More Information on OSERS Nominee

As we told you in an earlier Update, President Bush has nominated former Virginia Lt. Gov. John H. Hager to be assistant secretary of education for special education & rehabilitative services (OSERS). Following is some additional information about Hager.

John Hager currently serves Virginia in the position of Assistant to Governor Mark Warner for Commonwealth Preparedness. In this role he carries front-line responsibility for leading and coordinating safety and security in Virginia's fight against terrorism.

Hager participates in Cabinet meetings, serves as the federal point of contact for Homeland Security and works with Virginia's Congressional delegation and the Bush Administration in obtaining federal resources. The office ensures proper coordination between agencies of state government responsible for security and serves as a direct liaison between the Governor and local governments and first responders. He helps educate the public on homeland security initiatives. He is the Chairman of Virginia's Secure Commonwealth Initiative and Co-chairman of the Virginia Military Advisory Council, both of which function to strengthen Virginia's preparedness.

Hager was elected to the state's second highest office of Lieutenant Governor in 1997 and served for four years. His election proved that perseverance and determination in the face of daunting obstacles leads to victory in an election or in one's life. Hager's full-time approach of serving the people of Virginia redefined the role of the Lieutenant Governor. He served as chairman or vice-chairman of five active State commissions.

As Lt. Governor of Virginia, John Hager was a strong proponent for better education, improved transportation, and smaller, more efficient government. As President of the Senate, he proudly cast numerous tie-breaking votes, including a vote to return the state's lottery profits back to localities for use in public education. His chairmanship of the Disability Commission and as a role model for disabled Virginians has resulted in national recognition. A strong proponent of anti-crime initiatives, he was involved with the Drug Task Force, the DNA Task Force and safe driving legislation.

Hager graduated from Purdue University with a degree in mechanical engineering, and from Harvard University with an MBA. He served in the United States Army and the Army Reserves, rising to the rank of Captain. He is currently a member of the American Legion. A life-long athlete, John still competes in marathons and has won many races.

He is married to the former Margaret Dickinson Chase. Maggie and their two sons, Jack and Henry, are often at his side as he continues to work full time for a better Virginia.

A business executive who started at the bottom of the career ladder, John quickly rose through the ranks of The American Tobacco Company to Executive Vice President. After a near-fatal bout with polio, John rebuilt his life and his career. He retired in 1994 as Senior Vice President of Leaf and Specialty Products after the corporation was sold.

A long-term civic, charity and community leader, John has served as president or chairman of more than 30 boards and commissions in Virginia. He currently serves as Honorary Chairman of the Richmond Convention Center, Vice-chairman of the Aerospace States Association, and as director of the American Red Cross, The Sorensen Institute, Southern Growth Policies Board, The Center for Politics, The Virginia Public Safety Foundation, the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation, the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation and Jamestown 2007.

Department of Education Funding Opportunities

Research and Innovation To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities: Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004

Source: Federal Register: June 4, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 108)

Absolute Priority: Research and Innovation To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities--Research and Innovation. Background: This priority supports research to improve results for infants, toddlers, children, or youth with disabilities through early intervention, educational, transitional, post secondary, or related services. Proposals for three types of research will be accepted for this competition: (1) Innovation Research, (2) Model Development, and (3) Replication and Scale-up.

Applications Available: June 7, 2004.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 9, 2004.
For complete information go to http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2004-2/060404d.html or
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-12713.pdf

Research and Innovation To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities--National Center on Secondary, Transition, and Postsecondary School Outcomes for Students With Disabilities: Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004.

Source: Federal Register: June 4, 2004, Volume 69, Number 108

Absolute Priority: National Center On Secondary, Transition, and Postsecondary School Outcomes for Students with Disabilities. Background: Better data on secondary and postsecondary school outcomes for students are needed to assess the effectiveness of programs and services provided under Part B of IDEA and to improve secondary and postsecondary school outcomes for students with disabilities.

While there is general agreement that assessing academic achievement should be part of school accountability systems, many individuals involved in the education of students with disabilities believe that for IDEA purposes it is also important to collect other types of information that focus on assessing transition and postsecondary school success.

Applications Available: June 7, 2004.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 19, 2004.
For complete information, go to: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2004-2/060404c.html

Theme for Disability Awareness Month Announced

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has selected "You're Hired! Success Knows No Limitations!" as the official theme for October¹s National Disability Employment Awareness Month. For more information, visit www.dol.gov/odep