ALAWON v4n70 (July 26, 1995)
URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v4n70

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                                                             ISSN 1069-7799
                                  ALAWON
                      ALA Washington Office Newsline
                     An electronic publication of the
              American Library Association Washington Office

                            Volume 4, Number 70
                               July 26, 1995

   In this issue: (132 lines)
     REPS. MORELLA AND ORTON SPONSOR LIBRARY AMENDMENT IN HR 1555, THE
          COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1995

     *** IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED:  CONTACT HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT
          PROCEDURES FOR INTRODUCTION OF MORELLA-ORTON AMENDMENT

     HOUSE APPROVES INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING NEA/NEH AND INSTITUTE
          OF MUSEUM SERVICES TO 1997 - ACTION NEEDED

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        REPS. MORELLA AND ORTON OFFER LIBRARY AMENDMENT IN HR 1555,
                      THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1995

Representatives Constance Morella (R-MD) and Bill Orton (D-UT) intend to
cosponsor an amendment to HR 1555, the Communications Act of 1995, when it
comes to the House floor.  Their amendment would add in "affordable" and
"users of public libraries" in the pertinent section of the bill.  But
first the House Rules Committee must adopt procedures that would allow such
an amendment to be introduced.

The language Morella and Orton propose to be added to HR 1555 is indicated
in capital letters in the text from Section 246, (b) (5) as follows:

          (5) Educational Access to Advanced Telecommunications
     Services -- To the extent that a common carrier establishes
     advanced telecommunications services, such plan should include
     recommendations to ensure AFFORDABLE access to advanced
     telecommunications services for (A) students in elementary and
     secondary schools (B) USERS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES, AND (C)
     TELEMEDICAL ACTIVITIES IN RURAL HOSPITALS.

ALA and other education advocates have sought to strengthen this provision
in Section 246, which many critics argue is grossly inadequate to address
the public interests in terms of schools and libraries.  It is
substantially different than its "counterpart" Snowe-Rockefeller-Kerrey-
Exon amendment in S. 652, the Senate telecommunications bill.

There has been national press, advertising in major newspapers, and other
reports on the complex issues being debated in this latest effort to reform
the Communications Act of 1934.  Relative to the interests of the many
major players in the telecommunications industries, education and library
issues seem like "small potatoes" to some involved with the debate.  Many
of the traditional "players" (especially the regional Bells and cable TV
interests) are working hard to see that the legislation is acted upon
quickly before Congress goes into summer recess on or about August 4.
Other industry "players", such as some of the long distance companies,
would prefer to see the process slowed down, now that they do not like the
latest bill coming out of the House Commerce Committee.

Library and education advocates have argued that there must be major
consideration given to the "public interest" and schools and libraries in
these deliberations.  If there is to be a major overhaul of our nation's
communications policies, there should be a far more significant recognition
of the roles that libraries, schools and other public institutions play in
serving the public and providing "on-ramps" to the information
superhighway.

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     IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED:  CONTACT HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT
          PROCEDURES FOR INTRODUCTION OF MORELLA-ORTON AMENDMENT

In order for Reps. Morella and Orton to proceed with their amendment on the
House floor, the House Rules Committee must adopt procedures to allow its
introduction during floor debate.  The Rules Committee may meet as soon as
Friday, July 28.  ALAWON has just heard that there is even an outside
possibility that they could meet tomorrow, July 27.

It is necessary for all library advocates to contact members of the House
Rules Committee AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, whether or not your local
representative is on the Rules Committee.  They should be asked to adopt
the appropriate procedures to allow the Morella-Orton amendment to be
introduced.

The members of the House Rules Committee are:

Republicans:                                 Democrats:
Chair: Gerald Solomon (22nd-NY)
David Dreier (28th-CA)                       Joe Moakley (9th-MA)
Porter J. Goss (14th-FL)                     Anthony Beilenson (24th-CA)
James "Jim" Quillen (1st-TN)                 Martin Frost (24th-TX)
John Linder (4th-GA)                         Tony P. Hall (3rd-OH)
Deborah Pryce (15th-OH)
Lincoln Diaz-Balart (21st-FL)
Scott McInnis (3rd-CO)
Enid Greene Waldholtz (2nd-UT)

House of Representatives phone number: 202-224-3121.
House Rules Committee phone number: 202-225-9191.

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          HOUSE APPROVES INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING NEA/NEH
                 AND INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM SERVICES TO 1997

After days of strong debate, the House on July 18, approved the FY96
Interior Appropriations bill, HR 1977 (H. Rept. 104-186), by a vote of 244-
181.  The National Endowment for the Arts was funded at a total of $99.5
million subject to passage of a bill "authorizing such appropriation"; the
National Endowment for the Humanities was funded at a total of $99.5
million with the same stipulation.  The Institute of Museum Services was
funded at $21 million.

During the debate, Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) proposed an amendment to
abolish the National Endowment for the Humanities, which prompted lengthy
debate on the purposes and good programs presented by the NEH.  His
amendment was defeated by a vote of 148-277.  See the CR for July 17, pp.
H7055-7060.

ACTION NEEDED:  HR 1977 now moves to the Senate for action.  Committee
markup is scheduled for this week, but it may be that the tight Senate
calendar will not permit final action to occur until after recess.  Library
supporters should contact Senate members describing the far reaching NEH
programs in libraries, and urging Senators to increase funding to at least
that of FY95.

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ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is an irregular publication of the American Library
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