Legislation (H.R. 3222) to reauthorize federal funds for family literacy programs received voice vote approval in the House on September 12. The bill would authorize $500 million for Even Start programs in FY2001—an increase from the $118 million appropriated in FY2000. The bill was considered under suspension of the rules, a procedure that bars amendments and requires a two-thirds majority for passage.
The bill is one of several bills encompassing the House’s reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The ESEA, which was last reauthorized in 1994, represents the federal government’s contribution to public education for grades K-12, for which most funding is provided by state and local governments. While the House is moving its reauthorization as several separate bills, the Senate is moving one measure (S. 2). The Senate’s bill also would reauthorize Even Start programs. However, the Senate on May 9 stalled in its consideration of that measure and it has yet to resume debate (see The Source, 5/12/00, p. 2).
Even Start is based on a program initiated by the sponsor of H.R. 3222, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Bill Goodling (R-PA), when he was a school superintendent in his home state (see The Source, 2/18/00, p. 2; 5/14/99, p. 7).
When Rep. Goodling’s committee considered the bill in February, an amendment by Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN) was approved by voice vote. Under that amendment, faith-based organizations and churches would be allowed to run Even Start programs. The amendment contains standard “charitable choice” language barring proselytization or the promotion of sectarian worship as part of literacy programs, but several Democratic members of the committee expressed concern about violating the constitutional separation of church and state.
As a result, two additional amendments—both offered by Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)—were approved by voice vote. One amendment would clarify that Even Start programs are subject to all federal civil rights laws because they accept federal aid. The other amendment states that all individuals administering Even Start programs are barred from proselytization—volunteers and privately paid individuals, as well as those paid by federal funds.
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) spoke in favor of the bill, saying it “levels the playing field for our neediest families, who often need special services to provide basic education to their children.” Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) and several other Members of Congress joined in voicing support for the bill. “The holistic approach to learning to read [that is] embodied in this bill is the right answer, not just for children but for families,” said Rep. Johnson.
However, Rep. Scott stated his “reluctant opposition” to the bill. While lauding its overall goals, Rep. Scott expressed continued concern about the charitable choice provision. Saying that H.R. 3222 marks the first time that the Even Start reauthorization has featured charitable choice, Rep. Scott said it would allow participating organizations “to discriminate on the basis of religion in their hiring with public funds.” He added: “I am not suggesting that we take away a religious organization’s ability to discriminate in their hiring with their private funds…but public education programs ought to be the last place that we should tolerate religious discrimination.”
Responding to his concerns, Rep. Souder said, “The faith-based organizations that we are talking about are so narrowly defined by court decisions, they cannot spend taxpayers’ dollars for any type of proselytization.” The inclusion of religious organizations is important, he said, because “many of the most innovative leaders in America, particularly in the black and Hispanic and other immigrant communities, are faith-based.” A similar debate occurred during the House’s consideration of child support and fatherhood legislation (H.R. 4678), which also includes charitable choice language (see The Source, 9/8/00, p. 1).
