Latest News from Congress courtesy of ACTE/SkillsUSA:

July 11, 2007

The full House Appropriations Committee voted to approve its Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill on July 11, and in the process, agreed to increase Perkins Basic State Grant funding by $25 million over current FY 2007 levels. The Committee approved the increase as an amendment to the bill proposed by Rep. Peterson (R-PA), and supported by Committee leaders including Rep. Obey (D-WI). Several other amendments to the bill originally approved by the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee on June 7 (see the June 13 Legislative Update for more details) were also approved, and exact funding levels for other programs are still emerging. The bill is expected to be debated by the full House on July 18.

The Senate bill is also awaiting floor action. On June 19, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee approved its FY 2008 appropriations bill, S. 1710, funding education, workforce, and health programs. The full Senate Appropriations Committee followed quickly on June 21. The Senate bill provides approximately $149.9 billion in total discretionary spending, about $1.9 billion below the bill the House Appropriations Subcommittee approved on June 7. This lower total means fewer resources than the House bill for program increases in a number of areas, although the total is still $4.7 billion above current FY 2007 funding levels.

Of the overall total, the bill provides $60.1 billion for education, about $1.6 billion below the House Subcommittee’s approved level. The largest increases in the bill go to Title I of No Child Left Behind and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The Perkins Basic State Grant and Tech Prep were level funded at just below $1.3 billion, and Perkins National Programs received a small cut. The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program did receive a small increase, although not as large as in the House bill. 

Unlike the House bill, the Senate bill would not raise the maximum Pell Grant above the current level ($4,310), but Committee leaders still hope that this can be accomplished through other mechanisms. Most Workforce Investment Act programs, including those for youth are funded at FY 2007 levels.

The next step for the Senate bill is floor debate and a vote by the full Senate, but this is not likely to occur before late July at the earliest. Both bills face numerous hurdles before enactment, and it is critical to maintain advocacy efforts on behalf of Perkins funding specifically, and education and workforce development funding generally.

You can also learn about the progress of the Legislation and committee activity by clicking on this ACTE link. Archived Updates & Historical Information