ALAWON v4n30 (March 29, 1995)
URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v4n30

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                                                             ISSN 1069-7799
                                  ALAWON
                      ALA Washington Office Newsline
                     An electronic publication of the
              American Library Association Washington Office
 
                            Volume 4, Number 30
                              March 29, 1995
 
   In this issue: (111 lines)
     TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILL NOT YET RELEASED FROM SENATE COMMERCE
          COMMITTEE
     SENATE BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF S.617 RESCISSION PACKAGE -
          ACTION NEEDED
 
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  TELECOMMUNICATIONS BILL NOT YET RELEASED FROM SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
 
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee has not released
the telecommunications legislation that was considered at their March 23
mark up.  At this writing, no bill has formally been filed and rumors
persist that no complete version, with all the amendments, both substantive
and technical, has been finalized.
 
When ALAWON last reported on the Senate Commerce Committee mark up (ALAWON,
March 24, Vol. 4, No. 28) we had hoped that the final version would be
available by now.   Inquiries to senate staffers indicate that the bill
should be available by the end of this week.  We have also been advised
that the various public access provisions added through amendments remain
in the bill although we have received differing versions of the actual
amendments.  One amendment on universal service by Senators Olympia Snowe
(R-ME) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), and another amendment by Sen. John Kerry
(D-MA) on incremental cost-based rates, make major contributions to
insuring public access to the information superhighway through libraries
and schools.
 
Library and education supporters, especially in Maine, West Virginia, and
Massachusetts, should extend their thanks to these senators who championed
the importance of public access to the information superhighway through
libraries, schools, and rural healthcare facilities.  ALAWON will report
further on the roll call vote which preserved these key provisions giving
libraries eligibility for "incremental cost-based rates" as well as report
on possible floor amendments on redlining and other public access issues.
 
Also, at the mark up, Sens. James Exon (D-NE) and Slade Gorton (R-WA) added
S. 314, their Communications Decency Act of 1995, as an amendment to the
larger telecommunications bill.  It is believed their revised language
exempts telecommunications providers from responsibility for "obscene or
harassing use" of telecommunications systems and makes the "originators" of
such material responsible for its dissemination.  This is still a troubling
provision.  However, analysis of this and the entire bill will have to wait
for the official language in the committee bill and report.
 
There is still much to be done when the bill is reported out of committee
and to the Senate floor.  ALAWON readers should contact their senators and
ask for their support for the public access amendments even in advance of
the printed bill.  As soon as the bill is available we will provide
additional information.
 
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          SENATE BEGINS CONSIDERATION OF S.617 RESCISSION PACKAGE
 
On Wednesday, March 29, the Senate began consideration of the FY95
rescission bill.  Senator Hatfield (R-OR), chairman of the Appropriations
Committee offered the Senate bill S. 617 as an amendment to the House
rescission bill, HR 1158.
 
It is expected that Senators Kennedy (D-MA.) and Daschle (D-SD) will offer
a $1.3 billion amendment to restore cuts in education, housing, Head Start
etc.  The education restoration, totalling $330 million will cover Title 1,
Goals 2000, Safe and Drug Free Schools, School to Work, Impact Aid,
Immigrant Education and education infrastructure.  Library supporters will
remember that the education infrastructure program was part of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization passed last year,
and originally sponsored by Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-IL).  The
infrastructure program was funded in FY95, and the rescission bill proposed
to de-fund all the program in the House bill and $20 million of the program
in the Senate version.
 
ACTION NEEDED: Education and library supporters are encouraged to make
calls to Senators asking them to approve the Kennedy-Daschle amendment.
 
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ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is an irregular publication of the American Library
Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC
20002-5675.  Internet: alawash@alawash.org; Phone: 202-547-4440;
Fax: 202-547-7363.  Contributing to this issue:  Mary R. Costabile; Editor:
Lynne E. Bradley (leb@alawash.org).
 
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