CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE
June 9, 1969
Page 15129
FULL FUNDING OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, throughout the Nation there is an urgent demand that Congress face honestly and forthrightly the funding problems of educational programs and agencies.
Each level of education from kindergarten through graduate school is interrelated and depends upon the work done by the other. We in Congress have recognized the interlocking nature of educational programs, and we have enacted legislation covering education from Headstart through graduate school.
But what has happened to these educational programs? Why is there growing concern over the future of Federal aid to education in this country?
Let us look at the budget estimates which will shortly be considered before the Subcommittee on Appropriations presided over by the able senior Senator from Washington (Mr. MAGNUSON).
We find in the requests for student aid funds -- loans under title II of the National Defense Education Act, the educational opportunity grant program and the college work-study program -- that only $461 million will be available for these three major financial assistance programs to college students, although colleges and universities asked for $814 million.
For NDEA title II loans, the President is asking for only $155 million. Last year the Congress provided $190 million. That did not meet the need. We ought to do better, for the need is greater.
Under the category of academic facilities construction, we find another example of a disparity between promise and performance. According to projections made by the spokesmen for higher education institutions before the Subcommittee on Education there is an annual need in the United States for about $4 billion for college academic facilities construction. Under the construction statute as amended, up to 50 percent of the cost could be met as a Federal share.
Congress authorized $1,074,750,000 for construction for fiscal year 1970 for land grant colleges, 4-year colleges and graduate facilities. The amount contained in the revised budget is $65,850,000 -- less than 5 percent of the authorization. No construction funds are provided for 4-year undergraduate facilities. No construction funds are provided for graduate facilities.
In my own State of Maine, if this budget is accepted, our smaller schools, which have proceeded in good faith with their construction plans, will be in very serious difficulty. I have spoken to the administrative heads of some of these schools and I know their situation. Their problem is duplicated in State after State, school after school, throughout the Nation.
But this is not the only area of concern. Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which pertains to school library resources for public and private elementary and secondary schools, was entirely eliminated from further funding in the revised budget. Last year, for this purpose, $253,111 was appropriated for the State of Maine, and that was not the full authorization. The Maine Bureau of Secondary Education estimates that approximately 257,000 school pupils will have fewer library books and other resources next year if the appropriation for title II, ESEA, is eliminated; 425 schools in Maine which are without libraries will be unable to to establish these vital instructional centers.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at this point in my remarks there be printed material which was made available to me by the American Library Association containing information on the effect of the proposed fiscal year 1970 library budget cuts in the State of Maine.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
LIBRARY SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION ACT
The reduction in Title I appropriations, public library services, recommended by the Administration and the elimination of any funds for Title II, public library construction, will have a serious effect on development in the State of Maine, as shown by the following figures.
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT TITLE II -- SCHOOL LIBRARY RESOURCES
According to the Maine Bureau of Secondary Education, approximately 257,500 school pupils will have fewer library books and other resources next year if the appropriation for ESEA II is drastically reduced or eliminated. All children will be affected, but Indian children will be especially hurt.
A reduction in federal funds under this title will mean that 425 schools in Maine which are without libraries, will still be unable to establish these information centers. Maine schools need the stimulus of federal support in order to improve the quality of school libraries in the State, most of which still do not meet either nationally accepted standards or the standards set by the State.
HIGHER EDUCATION ACT -- TITLE II -- COLLEGE LIBRARY RESOURCES
William C. Ahrens, Librarian of the University of Maine, reports that his institution needs supplemental grants under HEA II in order to support new curricular programs with back files of journals, and extensive purchase of out-of-print and original material. Federal support is also needed for the filming of old Maine newspaper files and other historical records of the State and New England.
Kenneth P. Blake, Jr., Librarian of Colby College, reports that new courses in minority group history and culture has increased the demand for library materials. The Colby College Library is in need of federal grants for the purchase of both printed and audiovisual materials, and audio-visual and television equipment.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, in addition, from the same source, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the RECORD a program summary for fiscal year 1968 covering the operation in Maine of the Library Services and Construction Act as amended.
There being no objection, the summary was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
MAINE LIBRARY SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION ACT, AS AMENDED, PROGRAM SUMMARY OF FISCAL YEAR 1968
In fiscal 1968, Maine participated in all five programs of the Library Services and Construction Act. Titles I and II were continued from previous years; Titles III, IV-A, and IV-B were initiated as operational programs under the plans which had been developed in fiscal 1967. No matching funds were required for Titles III and IV in fiscal 1968.
Title 1. Public library services
Seven projects were carried on under this title, four of which were new in fiscal 1968. The largest, and oldest project is the bookmobile service which brings service to 133,000 residents of Maine, still with little or no public library service. Eight bookmobile areas cover sixteen counties. Two Indian Reservations are served in Washington county.
Two other on-going projects are the publication of the North Country Libraries, and the maintenance of the North Country Library Film Cooperative. These are jointly funded with Vermont and New Hampshire. North Country Libraries is sent to all 253 public libraries in the State, and to all 1,600 trustees. The Film Cooperative reports continued increase in use:
Films borrowed Audience
1967 ---------- 934 1967 -------- 41,021
1968 ---------- 1,603 1968 -------- 50,033
Incentives to in-service training for librarians in towns of 10,000 population or less were offered through new scholarships to the Public Library Techniques course at the summer session, University of New Hampshire. Four librarians took the course. Two hundred and four (204) town libraries in Maine serve populations less than 10,000, so the training problem is great.
In an effort to encourage public libraries to attain Maine's minimum standards adopted in the Maine State Plan for Service, a new incentive project of periodical grants was carried out in 1968. (Companion project in 1967 was a reference book grant.) With emphasis on meeting the standard for library hours open, the project provided to such eligible libraries the opportunity to select one-year subscriptions to their choice of certain periodicals and periodical indexes. The purpose of the grants was to demonstrate the need for extensive periodical use in study and research. Sixty-eight (68) libraries participated.
Two more new projects in fiscal 1968 address themselves to the great problem in Maine of better understanding of the library programs in order to show the need for an increase in State and local support. A consultant to trustees was retained on a part-time basis to provide advice, education in library trusteeships, and program development. Only two other States have such a position.
Response to this consultant's work has been good. The project is being continued as a long-range necessity.
Similarly, another new effort is being made with a public relations firm to attain better knowledge and acceptance of the library as a public service institution. Publicity in all media, publications, and special program design, such as for National Library Week, has been included in the 1968 project.
Title II. Public library construction
The one construction project on-going in 1968 is the Maine State Library and Cultural Building. Construction is under way, with completion anticipated in 1970.
Title III. Interlibrary cooperation
Establishment of the teletype-telephone network did not take place until March 1968, due to late funding. Four teletype machines in public libraries, Auburn, Bangor, Portland, and Waterville; four in colleges, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, and University of Maine, are linked with the teletype in the State Library. Thirty-six (36) other public libraries and eleven (11) other colleges are furnished with a WATS telephone line, providing extensive coverage for interlibrary loan and reference question service.
A second project which is being supported under Title III is the development of area library councils. These councils consist of members from all types of libraries within a given area or community and have as their purpose the local development of cooperative activities.
Title IV-A. State institutional library services
The eight State-supported institutions in Maine have cooperated heartily in developing plans for improved library services to inmates of the correctional institutions, mental hospitals, and the School for the Deaf. Title IV-A funds were used to provide books and audiovisual materials, to improve quarters, and to organize existing collections. The State Library position of consultant to institutional libraries still remains vacant, so full implementation of the program has not yet been effected.
Title IV-B. Library services to the physically handicapped
The Maine Division of Eye Care and Special Service is being reimbursed from Title IV-B funds for additional library services to handicapped individuals. Talking book machines and mechanical aids, such as page turners, are being placed in public libraries for demonstration and publicity. Sixty-nine (69) libraries received collections of largeprint books, totalling 2,123 copies. A series of regional meetings has been held to publicize and encourage use of these materials and pieces of equipment.
The officer responsible for administering the State Plan is Miss Ruth A. Hazelton, State Librarian, Maine State Library, Augusta, Maine.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, not only have funds for library resources in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act been eliminated, library services have been reduced by one-half, and funds for construction of new public libraries have been entirely eliminated.
It is hard for me to understand why this service, open to all Americans, which has had unquestioned public acceptance for decades, merits the cold lines contained in the explanation of the 1970 budget.
In line with general policy to defer new construction starts in a tight budget, this reduction will eliminate funds for about 90 library construction projects from the 1970 budget.
I submit that the explanation given is susceptible only to the interpretation that education and the library, a component of education, are considered to be of "low priority." I hope and trust that Congress will show that it does not share this estimate of the value and utility of the services of the dedicated members of the teaching and librarian professions.
In the field of special education aids to elementary and secondary schools, the administration proposes to reduce ESEA title III from an authorization of $566,500,000 to $116,393,000.
NDEA title V-A, guidance counseling and testing, is eliminated, as well as NDEA title II for equipment and remodeling.
Congress has authorized $8,896,418,925 for education programs in fiscal year 1970. In the professional judgment of the U.S. Office of Education, $4,579,178,455 is needed to carry out the agency's responsibility for these programs. Yet the administration has proposed an education budget of $3,221,745,455. This is $5,576,673,470 less than authorized, and $1,357,433,000 less than requested by the professional staff at the U.S. Office of Education. These figures are a matter which should be given careful scrutiny by all of my Senate colleagues as in the months to come we are asked to exercise responsibility through our approval of the appropriation bills and conference reports which will come before the Senate.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there appear at this point in my remarks the full history of the 1970 budget of the U.S. Office of Education.
There being no objection, the table was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows
[Table omitted]
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, Public Law 874, funds for schools in federally impacted or major disaster areas, one of the most respected Federal aid to education programs ever to be enacted, a program which has been extended and expanded by congressional initiative every 2 years since its enactment in 1950, is under budgetary attack once more.
If this program were fully funded, the estimated authorization would be approximately $650 million. But the budget estimates allow only $187 million, or 30 percent of the authorization, for the entire program. This is $318.9 million less than appropriated for fiscal year 1969.
I submit that a cutback of this magnitude cannot be sustained on the President's remarks that–
This reduction reflects a conclusion that within a budget that must be constructed in the fight against inflation, this program is of lower priority within the total program of federal support for education.
I do not believe that any American President would say to the people of this country that financing the operation and maintenance of an elementary or secondary school is inflationary.
Support of education is a capital investment in the future of this country which will repay social and economic dividends many times the investment.
Mr. President, each and every program delineated in the 1970 budget for education has an impact upon the young people of our country. The educational assistance and services provided by our education programs strengthen their ability to contribute to the life and economy of our Nation.
What we do now fixes the future of these young people. We have an awesome responsibility. It is one we cannot evade.
I intend -- and it is my hope that my colleagues will support me -- to do everything within my power to insure that the appropriations for education in this session of the 91st Congress will be
equitable and will be, to the best of our ability to do so, adequate.
Mr. President, I have but lightly sketched the dimensions of the subject. From the limited overview I have given, I hope I have made it clear why each of us should take a hard look, and an informed look, at the proposals being made by the administration to cut Federal aid to education.