Sign Up for RIF's Free eNewsletter

When is RIF's funding determined during the Fiscal Year?

Below is a list of important Congressional dates which effect RIF’s federal funding. Although certain activities are highlighted on this calendar, outreach to various congressional offices by RIF coordinators, supporters, and staff are occurring throughout the year. Some dates are general and most dates, activities and events are subject to change. This calendar will be updated regularly.

Learn more about timing your outreach with these great timing tips.

Advocacy Calendar At-a-Glance

February: 

Feb. (1st week)

• President Bush unveils his budget to Congress and RIF funding recommendation. 

Feb. (Mid-month)

• RIF Dear Colleague (DC) campaign begins and DC letters circulate on Capitol Hill.
• RIF supporters should write, e-mail or call their Congressional members to encourage them to sign the letter to the appropriations subcommittee.

Feb. (President’s weekend)

• House and Senate not in session (Congressmen in home states/districts).
• RIF supporters should try to meet with or talk to their Congressional members while they are at home but they can also call their Washington, DC, offices to talk to education staffers.  

March:

March (1st week)

• Dear Colleague campaign continues.
• RIF supporters should call their Congressional members to encourage them to sign the letter to the appropriations subcommittee. 

March (Mid-month)

• House and Senate not in session (Congressmen in home states/districts).
• RIF supporters should follow up with their Congressional members to confirm that they signed the letter.

March (Last week)

• Dear Colleague campaign ends. Please see if your representative is on the House co-signer list and if so, send a thank you email.

April: 

April (1st week)

• RIF supporters should look for Dear Colleague updates and RIF Advocacy Network Alerts. 

April (Mid-month)

• RIF supporters should start their children’s letter drive to Congress, ending last week of April.

April (Last week)

• RIF supporters should mail their children’s letter to RIF’s national office. Please make sure to include your personal notes and the RIF Children’s Letter Cover Page.
  Mail to:
  C/O Outreach Coordinators, “Your RIF PIN”
  Reading Is Fundamental
  1825 Connecticut Avenue
  Suite 400
  Washington, DC 20009 

May: 

May (1st week)

• RIF programs and staff concentrate attention on members of the appropriations subcommittees.
• RIF urges you to send children's letters by May 5! Please download the congress-themed template or school-themed template now!

May (Mid-month)

• Members of Congressional appropriations committees debate and decide funding amounts for RIF and other government program and services.
• RIF staff deliver children’s letter’s to members of Congress. 

May (Last week)

• RAN members should email, call or fax members of members of the appropriations subcommittees. 

June: 

June (1st week)

• RIF supporters in appropriations states and districts should email, call or fax members of Congressional appropriations committees. 

June (Last week)

• Program Excellence Honorees meet with members of Congress in Washington, DC. 

August: 

Aug. (1st week)

• House and Senate not in session (Congressmen in home states/districts).
• RIF supporters should try to meet with or talk to their Congressional members while they are at home but they can also call their Washington, DC, offices to talk to education staffers.

September: 

Sept. (Mid-month)

• Congressional conference committee finalizes Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill and RIF’s FY08 budget is set.