On Thursday evening, the Massachusetts House of Representatives approved its version of the FY 2019 budget. As passed, the House's spending plan includes a total of $32.73 million for adult basic education, an increase of $3.1 million over current levels.

 

The House's proposed increase reflects the leadership and commitment of dozens of Representatives, including, most notably, the Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, Jeffrey Sanchez (D-Jamaica Plain) and Representative Bob Koczera (D-New Bedford). In the lead-up to the House's budget debate, Representative Koczera offered an amendment that would have achieved an even larger boost in ABE funding and that won the backing of 76 of his colleagues. Though that amendment was not incorporated into the House's budget, the degree of support it received helps to set the stage for further action in the Senate.  

 

   

So, please set aside just a few minutes and:     

• Call to thank your State Representative and Chairman Sanchez

• Find your Representative here.

• Review the list of Koczera amendment sponsors below to see if your Representative is among them.  

• See how your Representative voted on the House's budget plan here.

• Call your Representative to thank him or her for being a co-sponsor of the Koczera amendment and/or for voting for the increase and share with them the positive impact it will have in your program and your community.

• Call your State Senator and ask him or her to build upon the House's version of the budget and to provide $34.5 million for adult basic education (line item #7035-0002) in FY2019.