The House Appropriations Committee has cut funding for many Texas Education Agency programs. The Texas Library Connection and funding for school library materials have also been slated for zero funding at this time.

Library advocates are urged to call or fax their legislators IMMEDIATELY, particularly if they serve on the House Appropriations Committee. Library advocates should also contact their senate representative, especially if he or she serves on the Senate Finance Committee.

Ask legislators to fund the Texas Library Connection at $4 million per year. This is the program's current funding and insures access to a rich body of electronic educational information for students.

Ask legislators to continue the rider for school library materials. The requested funding for the program is 30 cents per student for a total of $1.2 million a year.

For additional information, go to Texline 146.

Funding the Texas Library Connection: <http://www.txla.org/html/legis/TLC.pdf>

Funding School Library Materials: <http://www.txla.org/html/legis/School%20Library%20Materials.pdf>

In the House, you can send a fax to 512/463-5896. You can also get email information at: <http://www.whattifhasdone.org/Representatives.htm> for additional information. See list of House Appropriations Committee members below.

In the Senate, you can send a fax to 512/463-0326. You can also get email information at: http://www.whattifhasdone.org/Senators.htm> for additional information. See list of Senate Finance Committee members below.

• Talmadge Heflin, Chair
• Vilma Luna Vice-Chair
• Leo Berman
• Dan Branch-Education Subcommittee
• Betty Branch
• Fred Brown-Education Subcommittee
• Myra Crownover-General Government Subcommittee
• John Davis
• Joe Deshotel-Education Subcommittee
• Dawnna Dukes
• Craig Eiland
• Dan Ellis
• Roberto Gutierrez-Education Subcommittee
• Peggy Hamric-General Government Subcommittee
• Ruben Hope
• Suzanna Gratia Hupp
• Carl Isett-General Government Subcommittee
• Elizabeth Ames Jones
• Lois W. Kolkhorst
• Ruth Jones McClendon-General Government Subcommittee
• Jose Menendez-Education Subcommittee
• Joseph Pickett-Chair, General Government Subcommittee
• Jim Pitts-Chair, Education Subcommittee
• Richard Raymond
• Senate Finance Committee
• Teel Bivens, Chair
• Judith Zaffirini, Vice-Chair
• Kip Averitt
• Gonzalo Barrientos
• Kim Brimer
• Robert Duncan
• Kyle Janek;
• Jane Nelson
• Steve Ogden
• Florence Shapiro
• Eliot Shapleigh
• Todd Staples
• Royce West
• John Whitmire
• Tommy Williams