August is a Time for Growth
August is finally here and the harvest is coming in strong. Our gardens in the Northeast have taken a while to blossom but they are finally showing signs of a fruitful bounty. This month is traditionally a quiet month. For most legislators it is a vacation month. For activists I call it a “gearing up” month. August is a great time to figure out strategies for when the Fall session reconvenes.
What awaits us at the federal level will take much focus and energy. No Child Left Behind is quickly becoming a hot topic as children head back to school and we address the inequities that plague many of our public schools in compromised communities. Current rhetoric ties teacher salaries to standardized test scores and the proposed removal of state caps on new charter schools. Attention must be paid to new ideas that attempt to aid public education but in the long run could further undermine it. Our goal is to keep you informed through our network of organizations that are dedicated to this reform.
Likewise, the Childhood Nutrition Reauthorization Act is set to expire on September 30, 2009. This bill covers vital programs for low-income children such as school breakfast and lunch, afterschool snack and WIC. Reauthorization, along with additional funding, is critical to the success and health of our children.
And finally, healthcare reform. We as an organization support a single-payer healthcare system. When congress reconvenes, they will pick up where they left off. You can still voice in. This has the potential to be groundbreaking reform.
I encourage you to take this month to speak with your legislators while they are home in their districts. Let them know what is important to you and why. Let them know that you are watching them and want to be heard. They need to know that we are all on alert…even when they are on vacation.
Blog