U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

October 26, 2005

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Press Secretary

                        202-228-3630

Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary

                        303-455-7600

 

Sen. Salazar Fights for Colorado’s Schools, Forgotten Rural Areas & Military Families in Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Colorado’s schools are fighting for every dollar they can get to provide our children with a quality education, the rural portions of our state are fighting for their very lives as the federal government refuses to acknowledge their plight and our military families struggle enough worrying about the safety of their loved ones in harms way – they don’t need to worry about their children’s education or their jobs.

This week Senator Salazar worked to address those needs in connection with Senate action on the Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations bill that makes appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for FY 2006.

“We can do better for our children, rural areas and military families – our health and human services and education programs are under-funded in a time when those who benefit from them need them the most,” said Senator Salazar.

Yesterday, Senator Salazar successfully added three amendments to the Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations bill:

Impact Aid Amendment: Senator Salazar’s amendment (S.A. 2226) corrects technical filing errors on the part of two school districts, the El Paso School District in Colorado, and the Window Rock School District in Arizona and will allow them to recover a total of $2.6M in impact aid funding which was withheld as a late penalty. The El Paso School District filed its impact aid application on time, but because of a computer glitch, failed to submit it electronically.

AmeriCorps Opportunities in Rural America Amendment: AmeriCorps programs are primarily concentrated in urban areas. Senator Salazar’s amendment (S.A. 2225) directs AmeriCorps to conduct a national study to gather data on their presence in Rural America, including recommendations for increasing partnership with rural communities.

School Violence Study Amendment: Senator Salazar’s amendment (S.A. 2224) requires the Secretary of Education to undertake a study evaluating the effectiveness of violence prevention programs funded by the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program. It builds on Senator Salazar’s successful efforts as Attorney General with renowned youth violence expert Dr. Del Elliott and CU’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence. It will help assure students and parents that these programs are as effective as possible in preventing youth violence and that we are spending our tax dollars wisely.

Senator Salazar also submitted an amendment to provide additional funding for Drug Free Schools programs for the purpose of funding Anti-Meth Education in Middle Schools. The amendment was not agreed to.

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