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Federal Legislative Update #26/27/03Senate Education Funding Proposal for FY2004The Senate Labor, HHS, Education subcommittee marked up its FY 04 Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill this week, which includes an overall increase for education of $1.5 billion, or 2.8%, bringing total funding to $54.6 billion, and falling $1.5 billion short of what was promised for education in the FY 04 Budget Resolution. The Senate mark includes $781 million less for education than the House mark. The Senate mark cuts funding for No Child Left Behind Act programs by $486 million, for a total of $23.3 billion, leaving funding for NCLBA programs $8.7 billion below the FY 04 authorized level for NCLBA programs. It is also $762 million less than the level promised in the FY 04 Budget Resolution for NCLB. Mirroring the House mark, the Senate mark does not increase the Pell Grant maximum award and also freezes all campus-based programs. The Senate mark for Title I mirrors the House mark, providing an additional $666 million for the program. For IDEA, the Senate mark increases funding for State Grants by $984 million, a little less than the House's proposed $1 billion increase. This also falls $1.2 billion short of the $2.2 billion promised for IDEA in the FY 04 Budget Resolution. Like the House, the Senate mark restores funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, providing a $6.5 million, or 0.7%, increase over FY 03. Among the programs cut in the Senate bill are Teacher Quality State Grants (-$81 million), English Language Acquisition (-$20.5) and the High School Equivalency Program (-$10.3 million). The bill also eliminates funding for the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology program and Dropout Prevention. PerkinsThe Senate bill, like the House bill, maintains Perkins funding. All of the programs within the Perkins Act are proposed to be funded at FY 03 levels, including funding for Section 118 (Occupational and Employment Information) and Tech Prep Demonstration Sites. While the Senate did provide a $1.5 billion, or 2.8 percent increase for education, their proposal is $781 million less for education than the House appropriations bill. Perkins Budget Comparisons for Proposed FY 04 Funding Levels as Compared
to FY02 and FY03
|
| PERKINS | FY02 Enacted Funding | FY03 Enacted Funding | President's FY04 Budget Request |
House Appropriations Committee FY04 |
Senate Appropriations Committee FY04 |
| Basic State Grants |
$1,180 | $1,192 | $1,000* | $1,200 | $1,192 |
| Tech Prep | $108 | $107 | $0 | $107 | $107 |
| National Programs |
$12 | $12 | $0 | $12 | $12 |
| Tech Prep Demo | $5 | $5 | $0 | $0 | $5 |
| Occ. and Employment Info. (Section 118) |
$9.5 | $9.4 | $0 | $0 | $944 |
| Tribally Controlled Postsec. Institutions |
$6.5 | $7 | ** | ** | ** |
| PERKINS TOTAL | $1,321 | $1,333 | $1,000 | $1,319 | $1,326 |
* Requested as Secondary and Technical Education Excellence Act State Grant
** Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Institutions were moved to the higher education section of the budget. The House proposed level funding, and the Senate proposed a $545,000 increase
The full House and Senate are expected to be debate and vote on these bills in early July, and once passed, the differences will have to be worked out in a conference committee.
State Department Releases New Web site and Grant Programs To Promote International Exchange
The Department of State has established a new Website, which it is calling "Destination USA: Secure Borders, Open Doors." The site aims to provide straightforward information for international visitors on the steps necessary for studying in the U.S. The site address is: http://unitedstatesvisas.gov/
