2) Support of fully funding Title II Part A (“funds may be used to support
professional development for music educators, as part of supporting a “Wellrounded Education.”): The request was originally for $2,349,830,000; the
authorized amount was $2,294,000,000; and the President requested
$2,250,000,000. Close, but not quite that which was hoped for.
3) Title IV funding: Part A was the big one. The original funding request was
for $1,650,000,000, and this was also the authorized amount. The
recommendation from the President was for only $500,000,000. This is a
SIGNIFICANT drop (only 1/3 of the original request!), and one point where
the leadership from Maine chose to really focus our energy. Title IV, Part A
allots monies for “Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants
(SSAEG) providing a new and clear intent to support our nation’s schools
through a “Well-Rounded Education.” It was the highest area mentioned as
a recipient of funding, and it was the LEAST supported by the President.
Another concern is that these grants may become competitive grants, which
will negatively affect access to these monies for those schools most in need
of the assistance. Also in this section is Title IV Part F, which supports
funding for Professional Development for Music Educators. Again, the level of
funding recommended was $30 Million and the recommendation from the
President was for only $27 Million.
4) The last area of focus for our Hill Day visits this year was the ‘McSally
Amendment’. Representative Martha McSally proposed an amendment to a
bill on Military spending that “prohibits the use of funds for military bands to
play in social functions, dances, and other events that are outside the
competencies of the military”. She is quoted as stating that these military
musicians should ‘put down their tubas and pick up a wrench or a gun’. We
chose to focus on the importance of these Military Bands in terms of Music
Education and also LIVE music for Military functions such as Military
Funerals.
Please look on our Website for the information sheets that we received and a
more detailed accounting of the funding requests. I know that I always feel
more informed and empowered about important legislative issues due to our
briefings and discussions with our representatives in Washington.
Please don’t hesitate to speak to any member of your leadership if you
would like more information on these Hill Day visits or anything else about
which you are curiou s! Remember, we represent YOUR organization. Thank
you all for the opportunity to serve and work on your behalf and on behalf of
Music Education in the state of Maine, and thank you for your support.