Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Congress. Show all posts

Thursday, July 12, 2012

US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions: Hearings - Hearing

Senator Harkin About Page



Full Committee Hearing - Beyond Seclusion and Restraint: Creating Positive Learning Environments for All Students -- Panel Witnesses: Dr. Daniel Crimmins , Director, Center for Leadership in Disability, Georgia State University, Atlanta, G...eorgia ; Ms. Cyndi Pitonyak , Coordinator of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Montgomery County Public Schools, Christiansburg, Virginia ; Dr. Michael George , Director, Centennial School, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Ms. Deborah (Debbie) Jackson , parent, Easton, Pennsylvania -http://www.help.senate.gov//hearings/hearing/id=28ddbd0d-5056-9502-5dea-7197eb6434c8 See More






About the HELP Committee
The committee began in 1869 as the Committee on Education and in 1884 through the mid-1900s it was known as the Education and Labor Committee. In 1999, then Chairman James Jeffords of Vermont, worked to officially name it the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Today the Committee is led by Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R- WY) and is comprised of 23 Senators; 13 Democrats and 10 Republicans. Under their leadership, the Committee is composed of three subcommittees, which have a broad jurisdiction over our country's health care, education, employment and retirement policies.

Jurisdiction

Rule 25, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, States the Committee's Jurisdiction to be the following: Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to which committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects:
1. Measures relating to education, labor, health, and public welfare.
2. Aging.
3. Agricultural colleges.
4. Arts and humanities.
5. Biomedical research and development.
6. Child labor.
7. Convict labor and the entry of goods made by convicts into interstate commerce.
8. Domestic activities of the American National Red Cross.
9. Equal employment opportunity.
10. Gallaudet University, Howard University, and Saint Elizabeth hospital.
11. Individuals with disabilities.
12. Labor standards and labor statistics.
13. Mediation and arbitration of labor disputes.
14. Occupational safety and health, including the welfare of miners.
15. Private pension plans.
16. Public health.
17. Railway labor and retirement.
18. Regulation of foreign laborers.
19. Student loans.
20. Wages and hours of labor
Such committee shall also study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to health, education and training, and public welfare, and report thereon from time to time.

The Chairman

Senator Harkin About Page
Senator Tom Harkin has represented Iowa in Congress for 35 years. First winning election to the U.S. House in 1974, he represented Iowa's Fifth Congressional District until 1984, when he challenged an incumbent Senator and won. Iowans returned him to the Senate in 1990, 1996, 2002 and 2008, making Tom Harkin the first Iowa Democrat to win a fifth term in the U.S. Senate. He currently chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Read Full Bio




The Ranking Member

Senator Enzi About Page
Michael B. Enzi was sworn in as Wyoming's 20th United States Senator on January 7, 1997. Since that time he has cast votes and worked on some of the most pivotal and historic issues of our time including resolutions authorizing the use of military force in the Middle East, the impeachment of a President, dramatic overhaul of the Medicare system, innovative educational reform and legislation connected to September 11, 2001, the date of the most brutal terrorist attack on American soil. Read Full Bio




Democrats by Rank

Tom Harkin (IA)
Barbara A. Mikulski (MD)
Jeff Bingaman (NM)
Patty Murray (WA)
Bernard Sanders (I) (VT)
Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA)
Kay R. Hagan (NC)
Jeff Merkley (OR)
Al Franken (MN)
Michael F. Bennet (CO)
Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)
Richard Blumenthal (CT)

Republicans by Rank

Michael B. Enzi (WY)
Lamar Alexander (TN)
Richard Burr (NC)
Johnny Isakson (GA)
Rand Paul (KY)
Orrin G. Hatch (UT)
John McCain (AZ)
Pat Roberts (KS)
Lisa Murkowski (AK)
Mark Kirk (IL)



Recent News

Sunday, July 8, 2012

#BeBookSmart Twitter Party




JOIN US FOR A TWITTER PARTY ABOUT CHILDREN'S LITERACY!

RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) has partnered with Macy’s to create Be Book Smart, a national partnership to raise awareness and support of children’s literacy. This effort will help RIF provide free books and literacy resources to children nationwide, while expanding RIF’s outreach to the children at greatest risk for developing reading difficulties. This campaign provides an opportunity for Macy’s customers to join the effort and have an impact on literacy in their community.
Through July 31, 2012, Macy’s customers can give $3 to provide a book for a child and receive a coupon for $10 off* a $50 in-store purchase at any Macy’s nationwide. Macy’s will give 100% of every $3 to RIF.
Since 2004, Macy’s has played an integral part of helping RIF carry out its mission, raising over $21 million to support children’s literacy. That means millions of free books and resources for children who need them the most. 
#BeBookSmart Twitter Party on Wednesday, Jul 11 @ 6pm (EST). #bebooksmart

http://www.rif.org/us/get-involved/bebooksmart.htm

Send an email to Tell Congress to ACT now! {see below for sample}

Support Children's Literacy Funding in FY13!
Tell Congress to support continued funding for the Department of Education's Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant competition!

In 2011, RIF lost $24.8 million in federal funding – representing 80 percent of our operating budget. During the 2012 budget cycle that same year, Congress designated $28 million toward a new national literacy grant competition. While details are still being set for the competition, RIF hopes to be able to compete for a portion of these funds to support our local RIF programs. As Congress is now at work drafting the 2013 budget, it’s critical that this investment in children’s literacy remains. Please write to your members of Congress today. Tell them to maintain support for the Department of Education’s Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant competition. Make sure your representatives in Washington know that you support funding for our nation’s most critical investment: our children’s success in schools – and the future.
Send the message below today. Your voice matters.  Powered by CQ Roll Call ©2012 

  Thanks for making a pledge.
And thank you for declaring your love of reading to the world to help Book People Unite.
http://www.bookpeopleunite.org/pledge.html

If you're a Book Person like me, help put books in the hands of kids who need them the most. @rifweb http://www.bookpeopleunite.org #bookpeopleunite

Book Kids
Two dozen amazing fifth-graders decided to forgo their end-of-the-year party and donate the money to RIF instead. They also created a video that will get your feet tapping. 






Enter for a chance to win a $500 Macy's Gift Card!

Prize Details - Five (5) Grand Prize winners will each receive a $500 Macy’s gift card redeemable at all Macy’s store locations and on macys.com. One (1) Grand Prize winner will be selected following each week of the Sweepstakes Period in a random drawing from all eligible entries received and not previously selected, on or about the following dates: June 28, 2012; July 5, 2012; July 12, 2012; July 19, 2012; and July 26, 2012.  Prize Eligibility - Only persons who are at least 18 years of age can enter.  Sweepstakes Starts - June 22, 2012 @ 12:01 am (EDT)    Sweepstakes Ends - July 26, 2012 @ 11:59 pm (EDT) 





via




@EnjoyHi5Autism
"Reading is Fundamental. Reading is the gateway to a lifetime of learning." {BLC a.k.a. KBJCosse'} EnjoyHi5Autism networks support @RIFWEB http://rif.org/ .
Take Action and Tell Congress to Support Literacy Funding (every Fiscal Year) http://www.rif.org/us/get-involved/advocate/action-center.htm .
 ['All children can Learn.' http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyableSchoolYear]
@Babymiracle2005


  @blpcosse BLPCosse' +2


"Hi5! Pinned @RIFweb #BeBookSmart on 'RIF', 'Summertime Fun' , 'Reading & Literacy', 'Must read...' and other @EnjoyHi5Autism Pinterest Boards http://pinterest.com/EnjoyHi5Autism/pins/; Autism Families and http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyableSchoolYear"



Reading Is Fundamental PSA for RIF. @EnjoyHi5Autism networks support @RIFWEB http://rif.org/ . Take Action and Tell Congress to Support Literacy Funding (every Fiscal Year) http://www.rif.org/us/get-involved/advocate/action-center.htm .

Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is the nation's largest nonprofit children's literacy organization. Through RIF programs, we prepare and motivate children to read by ...

More Reading Resources
Reading Is Fundamental


ladder to the moon      First Sister an Interview with Maya Soetoro-Ng , author of Ladder to the Moon and sister to President Barack Obama - Comment:  Hi5!  Thank you First Sister Maya Soetoro-Ng for sharing.  We have pinned 'Ladder to the Moon' in our Pinterest at 'EnjoyHi5Autism' Boards:'RIF'; 'Must read...; 'Summertime Fun'; 'Educating & Learning & Reading; 'Reading & Literacy'.  Our family espouses "Reading Is Fundamental.  Reading is the gateway to a lifetime of learning."  All children can Learn.' (and learn to read)includes children with disabilities and special needs.  http://www.facebook.com/EnjoyableSchoolYear

ReadingRockets   Teaching kids to read, especially those who struggle. Research, classroom strategies, parent tips, books & authors, and much more, for educators and families


Reading Adventure Pack: Flight | Reading Topics A-Z | Reading Rockets -- Ad: - Story:






'Enjoying The Hi-5s of Autism - A Family Experience' at 'Enjoying The Hi-5's of Autism - A Family Experience' - 1 hour ago
Fifty family-friendly apps can make a huge contribution to your iDevice. Most participating developers are parents themselves – so come wave the flag this Independence Day – it’s a celebration! [Moms With Apps] Kid-Capsule July 2, 2012** ★ 50+ FAMILY FRIENDLY APPS ★ Fifty family-friendly apps can make a huge contribution to your iDevice. Most participating developers are parents themselves – so come wave the flag this Independence Day – IT'S A CELEBRATION! ★ Enter at the Kid-Capsule blog: http://bit.ly/50AppGiveaway ★ Open from July 2nd, 2012 at 12:01 AM EDT to July 13th, 2012 a... more »





Support Children's Literacy Funding in FY13!

Subject:
Support Children's Literacy Funding in FY13!

Required text:
(This text will be included in your message)
I respectfully urge you to support level funding of $28.6 million in FY2013 for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy competitive grant program. First funded in FY2012 and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, this national literacy grant competition is designed to support access to books, early literacy services, and effective school library programs for low-income children.

This investment in children's literacy comes at a critical time when only 1 in 300 children in poor neighborhoods owns a book, and only 1 in 5 low-income children is reading at the proficient level by the end of third grade. Access to print is essential and literacy is at the core of academic achievement for all children and one of the single best predictors for high school graduation, overall long-term success and prosperity.

The recent elimination of federal support for national literacy organizations like Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) is of grave concern, as these organizations work to distribute books and literacy resources to those children at highest risk of academic failure. Last year, RIF provided more than 15 million books to 4 million low-income children with the help of a volunteer corps of more than 400,000, a strong national infrastructure and the public-private partnership that has made RIF so effective during the course of its 45 years of operation. Children who enter kindergarten behind their peers are frequently unable to close the learning gap, and are three to four times more likely to drop out of school long-term. Refunding the national literacy grant competition in FY2013 becomes more vital than ever in working to address our nation's literacy crisis.

As the FY2013 budget process advances, I hope you will support this funding request for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant program.





1970's 'Reading Is Fundamental' Public Service Announcement




1973 'Reading Is Fundamental' Public Service Announcement






'Reading Is Fundamental' PSA (circa 1979)




'Reading Is Fundamental' - Book People Unite




Book People Unite - PSA 'Reading Is Fundamental'




'Reading Is Fundamental' - 1 PSA






'Reading Is Fundamental' video A&B- PSA






Univision RIF Neida Sandoval PSA 2009




NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal RIF PSA




Carol Burnett RIF PSA (circa 1977/1979)








Sunday, July 3, 2011

"Ime Mesa!" DIGNITY Revolution




Hi5!

"Ime Mesa!" DIGNITY Revolution

Special Olympics CEO Tim Shriver proclaimed the Call to Action - DIGNITY Revolution.

Are you "Ime Mesa!" ? 

Let's embrace this Call to Action for people with intellectual, developmental and other kinds of disabilities.

Hope you enjoyed the Special Olympics 2011 Summer World Games in Athens, Greece.  Remember, to support with monetary donations, in-kind Gifts, Volunteer time, purchaseS.O. merchandise and kind words.

Individuals with disAbilities seek Integration, Inclusion, Self-Determination, Independence and Productivity.  Do your part to ensure that 'Ime Mesa!'  "DIGNITY Revolution".
Here are videos of Shriver's Special Olympics challenge and Opening Ceremony highlights!



References


World Games Safety Update


ENJOY!