TC Response to LHHS appropriations: Encourage the Appropriations Committee to increase funding for MSP

The Triangle Coalition just released a letter in support of increased funding for the Math and Science Partnership program at the Department of Education and we are encouraging our member organizations with an interest in STEM teacher professional development to do the same before the Appropriations Committee itself addresses the bill this Thursday morning. Update: Rescheduled. See below for details.]

Detailed information about the LHHS spending bill, as marked up in subcommittee, is available as a news item on this webpage, and member organizations may model their letters off of our sample. The fax number for the majority office of the committee is (202) 225-5078 and the fax number for the minority office of the committee is (202) 225-9476. Check the appropriations committee website to see if your representative is a member. If so, you may achieve better results by contacting that member directly.

Update (6/13/07): Rep. Vern Ehlers, a champion of the Math & Science Partnership Program has written another Dear Colleague letter to appropriations committee members urging increased funding for MSP at tomorrow's committee markup.

Update 2 (6/14/07): The scheduled Thursday morning, 6/14, full committee markup of the LHHS bill has been canceled. We'll update this legislative news page with more information as it becomes available. In the mean time, you and your organization have more time to contact the committee and your congressmen to express your support for the MSP program!

Update 3 (6/19/07): The full appropriations committee is now expected to consider the LHHS bill sometime after the July 4th recess.

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June 12, 2007

The Honorable David R. Obey
Chairman
House Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health,
Human Services and Education
B300 Rayburn Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable James T. Walsh
Ranking Member
House Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Labor, Health,
Human Services and Education
1016 Longworth Office Building
Washington, DC 20515


Dear Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Walsh:

As the LHHS spending bill moves to the full committee, the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education, a nonprofit organization comprised of more than 100 member organizations from the business, education and scientific communities, wishes to express continued support for increased funding of the Math and Science Partnership program at the Department of Education. Under the subcommittee markup, the program received flat funding of $182 million for the third straight year.

A chorus of experts, including educators, industry leaders and pioneering scientists, has documented a deficiency in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching corps at the same time as they have confirmed the high value of such education to our nation’s continued prosperity. Most recently, a June 11th report by the Business-Higher Education Forum explicitly called on the federal government to expand support for programs that provide professional development to in-service teachers.

Increased funding for Math and Science Partnerships is the only option consistent with the leadership that the Congress has shown on STEM education initiatives this year. If we’re actually serious about improving American competitiveness, then we must invest in programs like the Math and Science Partnership program that have a demonstrated record of improving instruction at the local level. This program is the only dedicated source of funding for math and science teacher professional development.

We respectfully request that you continue to support science and mathematics instruction by providing all possible additional support to the Math and Science Partnership program. If you should have any questions or comments on this letter, please contact me directly at (703) 516-5965 or ablottv@triangle-coalition.org.

Sincerely,


Vance R. Ablott
Executive Director