The U.S. House Appropriations Committee on Monday advanced a draft education spending bill that would increase funding for student aid programs, amend the so-called 90-10 rule, and block the Education Department from carrying out new Title IX regulations governing sexual assault, among other things, reported Inside Higher Ed.
The spending measure, approved by the panel in a party line vote, would modestly boost the Education Department budget in fiscal year 2021 by $716 million to $73.5 billion. It would increase funding for higher education institutions by $81 million to $2.6 billion, including $49 million more for historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
Under the plan, the maximum Pell Grant award would increase by $150 to $6,495. The bill would also provide $1.2 billion for Federal Work Study, an increase of $30 million; $880 million for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, an increase of $15 million; $1.1 billion for Federal TRIO programs, an increase of $10 million; and $370 million for GEAR UP, an increase of $5 million.
Additionally, the legislation would amend the so-called 90-10 rule—tightening the maximum share of revenue for-profit institutions can take in from federal sources at 85 percent and counting military education benefits as federal revenue— and block Education Secretary Betsy DeVos from carrying out her new Title IX regulations governing sexual misconduct in schools and colleges. The Title IX rules are currently scheduled to take effect next month, over the objections of many school and college groups
Ahead of the markup, AACRAO, along with 29 other higher education associations, sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee in support of the bill.
The Democrat-controlled House must still work out a deal with the Republican Senate and the Trump administration as part of a budget deal later this year, Inside Higher Ed reported. The spending package is separate from discussions around the next coronavirus relief package, expected to begin in earnest when the Senate returns from its July 4 break next week.
Related Links
Inside Higher Ed
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2020/07/14/house-panel-advances-dems-education-spending-plan
Letter to House Appropriations Committee in Support of FY 2021 Education Appropriations Bill
https://www.aacrao.org/docs/default-source/statements-and-letters/letter-house-labor-hhs-2021-appropriations-071020.pdf?sfvrsn=d720ad24_3