The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to vote on the legislation on Tuesday, July 22, the same day the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled to mark up its version of the FY98 Labor, HHS-Education Appropriations bill. Commission on Libraries and Info. It may be that the FY98 Labor HHS-Ed Appropriations bill will move quickly to the floor after the full committee meets on July 22. Library supporters should thank House members for support of library programs and contact members of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee which will meet on July 22 to ask them to support increases for library and related programs. At least 40 percent of this block grant is spent by school districts on funding for school library and instructional materials.
Current law prohibits the use of federal funds for lobbying federal and state legislation.
OMB Watch contends that because less clarity exists about distinctions between executive and legislative functions at the local level, the proposed amendment could either prohibit or chill virtually all policy communications with local governmental entities. According to individuals who attended the Appropriations Subcommittee markup, amendments of any kind to the appropriations bill are being discouraged. However, Rep. Istook was able to garner support for his idea in the last Congress. Since the Istook proposal would significantly change this, it could impact and limit the rights of charitable or nonprofit groups that receive federal grants to advocate with local governments. This is a controversial amendment which if adopted could cause a problem with the passage of the FY98 Labor HHS-Ed Appropriations bill.