FY09 Appropriations Process Stalled
Last week, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees scheduled full committee markups of the FY09 appropriations bills. The Senate Committee approved it’s subcommittee’s funding levels, including a $69 increase in the maximum Pell Grant, which would bring the FY09 maximum grant to $4,800, including the mandatory funding provided by last fall’s reconciliation bill. The Senate Committee also provided a $10 million increase for TRIO and a $5 million increase for GEAR UP.
The House markup was abruptly adjourned, however, when ranking member Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) offered an amendment to strip the contents of the education funding bill and replace it with the funding bill for the Department of Interior. The Interior appropriations bill is a likely vehicle for efforts to increase oil production in the US. Chairman David Obey (D-WI) swiftly adjourned the markup, noting that such political stunts are why “Americans hate Washington.” The House subcommittee bill included a $169 increase in the Pell Grant maximum award, which would mean a $4,900 maximum grant including mandatory funding. The House subcommittee bill also provided a $29.8 million increase for TRIO and a $14.5 million increase for GEAR UP.
Unfortunately, funding levels for NACAC’s other priority programs are unavailable, but both committees have likely restored cuts to SEOG and LEAP that appeared in the President’s proposed budget, and have also likely provided small increases for ESSCP.
For more details on FY09 appropriations as they become available, check NACAC’s government relations web page for daily updates.