Tell Your Senator: Support Swift Passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

I urge you to support swift passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and to REJECT ANY AMENDMENTS that would eliminate or reduce funding for key education and healthcare programs.

The Senate must respond with the same sense of urgency that motivated the passage of a bailout package for Wall Street and that responds directly to the needs of Main Street Americans. Such action also will be a solid first step toward realizing President Obama's goal of creating or preserving 3 million jobs over the next two years.

The stimulus package now under consideration in the Senate must include the following provisions:

Immediate federal assistance to school districts facing budget cuts--This assistance will help avert draconian staffing cuts that could lead to larger class sizes, overcrowding and attendant disciplinary problems; delays in the purchase of up-to-date textbooks and state-of-the-art technology; less access to proven and promising programs that are improving student achievement; and higher tuition rates at public universities. The federal government should provide substantial funding for an emergency education stabilization fund for school districts. This could be used to fund any of the activities already authorized under ESEA (the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) or IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).

High-quality public education--State and local governments currently are cutting back on one of their most essential investments: educating the next generation. This disinvestment in education is shortsighted because it places our economy in a race to the bottom for years to come. Even in these tough economic times, for the long-term health of our country it is imperative to reinvest, not disinvest, in education. Funds should be provided to help states invest in programs for preK-12 education, teacher quality and child care.

Immediate fiscal relief to states--The federal government should increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) contribution to the state Medicaid program substantially and increase funding for the Social Service Block Grant over the next two years. These countercyclical programs will provide immediate help to cash-strapped states and help maintain vital public services, such as education and healthcare.

Investment in improving our nation's infrastructure--States need assistance to rebuild a crumbling infrastructure. Building for the future will result in improved roads, schools, bridges, and transit and water systems as well as more jobs for unemployed and underemployed workers. The final package should include a significant investment for "ready to go" infrastructure projects across the nation. These investments will provide immediate benefits by putting people to work and buying goods, and also will benefit Americans for years to come by creating "green jobs" using technology that will increase energy efficiency.

College accessibility--Public colleges and universities must keep their doors open, their classes affordable, their education programs up to date, and maintain the high quality of their workforce, in the face of rising enrollments. Unfortunately, colleges and universities are typically the first to see a reduction in state investment and support when states face budget shortfalls. At least 24 states already have implemented cuts to public colleges and universities, and many institutions are implementing large tuition increases to make up for insufficient state funding. Although the prior Congress did important work by beginning to restore the purchasing power of Pell Grants, the new Congress must carry through on this commitment by fully funding the Pell shortfall to ensure that students with the greatest financial need receive sufficient assistance. Congress also should take steps to increase the maximum Pell Grant.

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