[Dec-advocacy] We need your help: Congress is home for the Memorial Day Recess May 24-30.

[Diana J. LaRocco]

Alert: We Need Your Help!
Congress is home for the Memorial Day Recess May 24-30!
Please call, email or visit your Congressperson and both your Senators,
while they are in their home districts, and ask them to fully fund IDEA.
 
As you probably already know, with the exception of Part B State Grant
Programs (which has received small increases), funding for IDEA programs has
been cut or frozen for the last several years. It is more important than
ever to contact your congressional representatives and ask them to fully
fund all IDEA programs. Congress is on Memorial Day recess May 24-30. This
means that many members will be in their home district offices; it is a
great time to get in touch with them!
 
Here is what you can do:
 
Contact your congressional representatives.
If you don¹t know who they are or if you don¹t have their contact
information, simply go to CEC¹s Legislative Action Center at
http://capwiz.com/cek/dbq/officials/ to find your elected officials. Type in
your zip code, follow the prompts, and a list of the names and contact
information for your elected officials will be provided.
 
Meet with congressional representatives, call them, or write to them and
tell them how important it is to fully fund IDEA.
Whether you schedule a meeting or send an email or call, ask your
representatives to please demonstrate their commitment to education by
providing an increase in funding for fiscal year 2009. Be brief, be polite,
and share a personal story or picture. BE sure to include you name and
contact information in any correspondence.
 
· You can schedule a meeting by calling the representative¹s local office
and setting up an appointment in the local office. If the legislator is not
going to be home during the May break, schedule an appointment with a staff
member who works on children¹s or education-related issues.
·  Call or email your representatives.
 
Here is the message.
Specifically, ask them to increase spending for special education programs
under IDEA. For fiscal year 2009, request that Congress appropriate:
* Part B State Grants - $12.47 billion
* Part B Section 619 Preschool Grants - $944 million
* IDEA Part C Grants for Infants, Toddlers and Their Families - $770 million
* IDEA Part D Support Programs - $818.9 million
 
Thank you for making a personal contact with your Congressperson and both
your Senators! If you need additional information, please let DEC know.
 
Bonnie Keilty, DEC Governmental Relations Chairperson
bakeilty at uncc.edu
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