Gifted Legislation Update
| Note: The information provided on this page is an informal effort to provide parents of identified Gifted learners with brief information and further contacts concerning issues within Gifted Education which might be of interest. No position is being taken on the issues being addressed on this page. Interested parties are encouraged to become informed and to construct their own opinions and plans of action. This is provided as a service and is in no way intended as a tool of political influence. |
S.761
Message recieved on 4-24-07:
> Subject: Legislative Alert : Your Help Needed Today
>
> U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (Iowa) is offering an amendment on the
> Senate floor to S.761, the America COMPETES Act, to create a dedicated
> funding stream for the Javits program, which would allow the National
> Research Center and the grants programs to continue.
>
> THE SENATE IS VOTING TODAY AND TOMMORROW (4/24 & 25) ON AMENDMENTS;
> THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN THE GRASSLEY AMENDMENT WILL COME UP.
> THEREFORE, WE NEED YOU TO EMAIL BOTH YOUR SENATORS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
> TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT (See below for more info on the message).
>
> S.761 focuses on math & science education and teacher training to
> address the nation's global competitiveness concerns. The bill also
> includes assistance to states for math/science high schools and
> creates summer internships for middle & high school students at the
> various national energy laboratories.
>
> Senator Grassley's amendment would support advanced U.S. students by
> increasing the fees charged for H-1B visas and dedicate that funding
> stream to the Javits program. The H-1B visas are visas for highly
> skilled foreign workers to come to the U.S. to fill high-tech,
> engineering & medical jobs, among others.
>
> In essence, we're taking the funds that companies invest in obtaining
> highly skilled international talent and reinvesting that money in U.S.
> talent.
>
> NAGC has posted a draft "form" letter that you may copy &
paste into
> emails to your Senators at http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=585&al.
>
> Senate email addresses (and web-based message centers) are available
> at www.senate.gov.
>
> NAGC is pleased to be working with the Council for Exceptional
> Children on this amendment. You can use the CEC legislative action
> center to send the same message (or use the link to the action center
> in emails you send to your friends and other gifted ed supporters).
> That link is http://capwiz.com/cek/home/
>
> Thank you for your assistance!
>
> National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
> 1707 L Street, N.W. - Suite 550
> Washington, DC 20036
> USA
Florida Senate: Bill No. SB 1046
1. Announcement from Donnajo Smith, Program Specialist for Gifted Education, FloridaDOE:
Teachers: Some important developments are occurring the legislative session that you may want to know about. Please see the message below from the DOE Program Specialist for Gifted Education. Subject: ALERT Yesterday the Senate Appropriations committee put on the table some language in a proposed law that would make gifted a K-8 program only – no service for high school students. This would go to a vote next week (March 27-28). At this time, Florida Gifted Network is alerting parents of this intended action. If you feel this would have an impact on your students and current service, you may want to contact your local representatives. For the name of your local representative in the Senate: The next step would be to have this move to the House. For the name of your local representative in the House: Let me know if you have any questions. Donnajo Smith |