House Republican leaders are quiet on next steps for the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act after reportedly gauging member support for the bill earlier this week, suggesting little chance of a floor vote soon, according to Inside Higher Ed.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) planned to conduct a whip check on Tuesday to determine if the bill had enough support to advance to the House floor for consideration, Politico reported. The House Education and Workforce Committee approved the measure on a party-line vote in December, but the bill has yet to move forward since then.
A spokesman for Scalise's office said Wednesday that it does not comment on whip counts.
Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC), chair of the House education committee, continues to have "positive conversations with other members about the bill," said Marty Boughton, a committee spokeswoman. However, the committee deferred questions about support for the bill and a vote schedule to offices of Scalise and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
While GOP leaders gauged support for the bill this week, higher education associations, student groups, and veterans' organizations renewed pressure on lawmakers to withhold support for the GOP's sweeping overhaul of the Higher Education Act (HEA). Next week, a group of AACRAO state and regional leaders will be on the Hill outlining our opposition to the proposed PROSPER Act and discussing the association's priorities for the forthcoming reauthorization.
The PROSPER Act, even if approved by the full House, is considered doomed in the Senate, where it would have to garner some Democratic support for floor passage. Negotiations over the Senate's version of the HEA overhaul have stalled, however.
Related Links
Inside Higher Ed
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/06/14/no-movement-prosper-act-after-gop-vote-count
Politico
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-education/2018/06/12/house-leaders-to-count-votes-on-gop-higher-ed-bill-249144