Legislative Update, January 2015
• Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and Internet announces Leadership
Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) was named the Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet. On January 22, 2015 Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) was selected to serve as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee. This Subcommittee has jurisdiction over many issues affecting station, including the Public Broadcasting Act.
• Senate HELP Committee is Moving Quickly on ESEA Draft Bill
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair, Lamar Alexander (R-TN), released a "discussion draft" of his vision for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in January. ESEA is the law that contains the authorization for the "Ready to Learn" program. Several changes were included in the "discussion draft" including the elimination of many small programs in favor of a larger state block grant approach. Although disappointing, this was not a surprise since Chairman Alexander introduced a bill in 2013 that proposed the same approach. He has, however, indicated interest in working closely with the committee's ranking member, Senator Patty Murphy (D-WA) to make the bill bipartisan. Station members of APTS will remain updated as the process unfolds.
Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) was named the Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet. On January 22, 2015 Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) was selected to serve as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee. This Subcommittee has jurisdiction over many issues affecting station, including the Public Broadcasting Act.
• Senate HELP Committee is Moving Quickly on ESEA Draft Bill
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair, Lamar Alexander (R-TN), released a "discussion draft" of his vision for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in January. ESEA is the law that contains the authorization for the "Ready to Learn" program. Several changes were included in the "discussion draft" including the elimination of many small programs in favor of a larger state block grant approach. Although disappointing, this was not a surprise since Chairman Alexander introduced a bill in 2013 that proposed the same approach. He has, however, indicated interest in working closely with the committee's ranking member, Senator Patty Murphy (D-WA) to make the bill bipartisan. Station members of APTS will remain updated as the process unfolds.