Reed Amendment Passes

The Reed Amendment, which for the first time in more than 30 years gives school libraries federal funding, was passed by Congress December 11. "We're excited and thrilled," says Emily Sheketoff, director of the American Library Association's Washington Office, adding that the move will ensure more children have the chance to read. The amendment did not pass on the floor, but as part of the Joint House and the Senate Conference Committee's budget report.

At press time, the Joint Appropriations Committee was deciding how much of the $250-million authorization would actually go to school libraries for the 2003 fiscal year. It was clear, however, in the current economy, that only a small portion would be funded. "This is happening so late in the process, there was no chance that the appropriators could stop what they were doing and fund it in any greater amount with all the demands on the current budget," says Greg McCarthy, Sen. Jack Reed's (D-RI) press secretary.

The Senate in May passed the Reed Amendment with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, authorizing $500 million for school libraries, but later appropriated only $25 million in funding. The House, which excluded the Reed Bill, subsequently voted to authorize no funding, so the appropriations committee members might, as they often do, "split the difference," says Sheketoff. If the amount appropriated is around $12 million, the funds might be distributed to school libraries through a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education.