Senate Completes Debate on Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill

After more than a week of spirited debate on the fiscal year 2001 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R. 4577), the Senate passed the measure along party lines this afternoon, by a 52-43 vote. Debate on the measure began on June 22.

Earlier this week, the Senate turned back several attempts by Democrats to amend the bill by adding funding for the President’s education initiatives. The Senate rejected amendments proposed by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Chuck Robb (D-VA) to provide $1.3 billion in grants and loans for school repairs. Senators also rejected an amendment offered by Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) to increase Title I funding to $10 billion and an amendment by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) to provide funds specifically for hiring new teachers.

The House and Senate will soon have to resolve a number of issues in conference, including the maximum Pell Grant award. The Senate version sets the maximum grant at $3,650, $150 higher than the Administration’s request and the House level, and $350 higher than the current level. In addition, the House bill overall provides nearly $3 billion less than Clinton’s overall request for the Department of Education.

Of interest to higher education officials, Senator Wellstone introduced an amendment today to increase funding for Perkins loan cancellations by $30 million, making the total amount $90 million, in order to pay back previously owed debts to schools. Wellstone withdrew his amendment after an agreement was reached with Republicans to provide a $15 million increase.

Regardless of the outcome of that conference, it is likely that the bill will be vetoed. This week, the President appeared confident that he would win a budget showdown with Republicans joking that "we’ve been doing this every year since 1995 – we just sort of slightly change the script, and I’m more than happy to do it again."

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