ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

MOVE FOR ACTION ON HEA

Adjournment fever is developing among the nation’s lawmakers and the current speculations reflect a variety of educated guesses as to when Congress will decide to end this session and go home. This uncertainty is of major concern to librarians, particularly to ACRL members, because the Higher Education Act of 1965 —PL 89-329—requires renewed authorizations if programs are to be funded beyond June 30, 1968, when the present legislation expires. Legislation for the extension of HEA was introduced early in the 90th Congress—Higher Education Amendments of 1967 (H.R. 6232 and S. 1126— and hearings were conducted by the House Special Education Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Edith Green (D-Ore.). In early June, the Subcommittee began closed executive sessions and it was expected that a bill would be ready for a House vote by summer’s end, with Senate action coming shortly thereafter.

Due to a series of complications involving other legislation, the House Committee has not yet reported out this bill and the Senate has not begun Committee consideration. But there is still every expectation that both bodies will take action on the measure early in the second session.

What to Do: In the meantime while Members are home for the holidays college librari-. ans should make every effort to get their presidents to talk to their Senators and Congressmen. Arm your spokesman with all the pertinent facts regarding the institutions’ library needs in terms of students’ services. Impress him with the urgency for early action on this vital measure to aid institutions of higher education. Librarians and college administrators alike will be unable to do any advance planning and another eleventh-hour cliff-hanging situation will develop if Congress does not act immediately when the second session is convened in January. ■■

For Senators, urge action on S 1126

For Representatives, urge action on HR6232