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U.S. Rep. Tom Allen met recently with David Heikkila from Vassalboro. David, a junior at Erskine Academy, was in Washington to attend the Congressional Youth Leadership Council.

Mainers have a strong commitment to education. This dedication clearly makes a difference, as Maine ranks 5th out of all 50 states in overall child well-being. Rep. Tom Allen appreciates that decisions about education rest primarily at the local level with parents and local school districts. He believes that the federal role is mainly to ensure fairness and opportunity for all of our children. As a member of the House Budget Committee, Representative Allen has fought to make the federal government responsible for funding any mandates it places on local school districts. For example, he believes that the federal government must meet its commitment to fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. These unfunded mandates have forced schools in Maine and across the country into a near-crisis situation and imposed a great burden local property taxpayers to pay huge bills.

Rep. Tom Allen views education as an investment, and is fighting to ensure that the federal government provides the support necessary to make this investment. Excellent, well-funded schools are essential to educate tomorrow’s Americans for the challenges they will face. He will continue to fight for the resources Maine parents and teachers need for their children’s education.

Legislation

Student Loans

Higher education is the foundation of economic mobility in America. College graduates enjoy higher incomes, better career opportunities, and more financial stability than those without a college degree. College has never been more important, and sadly, more expensive.

Rep. Tom Allen voted for H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which passed the House on July 11, by a vote of 273 to 149, and was signed by the President on September 27, 2007. It is the largest increase in student aid since the GI Bill following World War II.

The bill increases college financial aid to students by more than $20 billion over five years with no additional cost to American taxpayers. It pays for both the increase in student loans and the deficit reduction through $20.9 billion in cuts of excessive subsidies the federal government currently pays to the college loan industry, resulting in a net reduction of the federal budget deficit by $750 million.

This bill will save more than 21,000 Mainers who take out need based student loans, an average of $4,210 in interest on the typical four year student debt of $13,173. This legislation also increases the maximum value of the Pell Grant scholarship by $1,090 over the next five years, reaching $5,400 by 2012.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB)

The federal government’s failure to fully fund NCLB has saddled school districts in Maine and across the country needless red tape and major financial problems. Schools are struggling to meet the law’s considerable requirements, which include additional education for teachers, creating and implementing new assessment systems, restructuring curriculums and much more, without promised federal aid.

Rep. Tom Allen has supported amendments and legislation for the past two Congresses to fully fund the program at authorized levels. He has also supported funding for specific programs including Title I (Education for the Disadvantaged), Teacher Quality Improvement Grants, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers.

Rep. Allen meets with students from Cape Elizabeth High School who were visiting Washington D.C.

He led a bipartisan appeal to the Members of the House Appropriations Committee urging them to increase funding for Title V, which is a unique source of flexible funds that allows school systems to initiate reforms that meet both local and federal priorities.

The current authorization for NCLB will expire in 2007. Rep. Tom Allen will continue to work with Maine educators and his colleagues in the House to ease the strain of this unfunded mandate as Congress begins to debate the reauthorization of NCLB.

Early Education

Research consistently demonstrates that the first years of life are crucial for a child’s emotional and intellectual development. Neuroscientists have found that throughout development, even prior to birth, the brain is affected by environmental conditions, including nourishment, care, surroundings, and stimulation. Early childhood education is critical.

Head Start is federally administered and provides grants directly to local programs. Since 1965, the program has provided comprehensive early childhood development, education, health, nutrition, social and other services to primarily low-income preschool children and their families. Rep. Tom Allen supported and voted for the Head Start reauthorization bill which committed $7.4 billion in funding, requires that 50 percent of teachers have a bachelor’s degree, increases services to special needs students, provides student loan forgiveness to teachers, and enhances teacher training.

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