We
need your help with a most important issue. The Pennsylvania
Catholic Conference (PCC) has been contacted by the National
Catholic Education Association (NCEA), which oversees Catholic
education across the United States. They have asked us to reach
out to our individual state Catholic advocacy groups to urge
them to contact their US Senators and members of the House of
Representatives to include independent and religious schools in
the economic stimulus package that Congress is currently
drafting.
On January 15, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 came before the House Appropriations Committee. Within
the $825 proposed investment in the U.S. economy is a section
that would target $14 billion dollars to spend on school
modernization and repair projects that have a positive effect on
the environment. Unfortunately, only public and charter schools
are included in this proposed appropriation.
Please call or e-mail your members of Congress and urge them to
include independent and religious schools in the economic
stimulus package.
CAPE, the Council for American Private Education, has begun an
advocacy effort on this issue on its website, at
http://capwiz.com/cape/issues/alert/?alertid=12443346 .
Since this legislation is likely to move quickly through
Congress, referring concerned citizens to the CAPE website is
the most efficient way to reach legislators. CAPE has resources
to explain the issue in more detail and a sample letter.
It is essential that people who care about independent and
religious schools speak out to seek equitability and fairness as
this new Congress and administration begin their work.
Want to get more involved in advocating for Catholic education
in Pennsylvania? Sign up for ACE-PA, Advocates for Catholic
Education in Pennsylvania by contacting Sean McAleer at
717-238-9613 or smcaleer@pacatholic.org
