Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 08:52:00 EDT
From: "Castanuela, Ava" <ACASTANU@CNS.GOV>
Last night we got good news on FY 98 appropriations. Though the result is
far less than the Administration requested, it is significantly more than
there was reason to expect a few months ago.
The Senate and House of Representatives conferees on the VA/HUD
Appropriations bill have concluded their discussions on the national
service programs funded through the VA/HUD bill -- AmeriCorps*State and
National, AmeriCorps*NCCC, Learn and Serve America, and the National
Service Trust. They have restored the cut made in the House and agreed on
a $25 million increase over last year's funding level, bringing the total
to $425.5 million. This increase, which is targeted to literacy
activities, is the first increase for national service appropriations
agreed to by conferees in years.
Additionally, the conferees earmarked $2 million of the Corporation's
total as an increase in administration funds, which will be valuable as
we continue our intense efforts to strengthen the management and
financial controls at the Corporation.
The conferees also agreed to increase the appropriations for the
Corporation's Office of the Inspector General from $2 million to $3
million.
The Learn and Serve Program, the NCCC, and the Points of Light Foundation
remain at last year's level.
The conference report is scheduled to be filed by midnight tonight, and
the conferees are optimistic that it will pass both Houses of Congress.
We will provide you with additional details when they are available.
The Labor-HHS conference which funds AmeriCorps*VISTA and the Senior
Corps is scheduled to meet next week. Details will be forthcoming.