Pell Grant Fix in House CR (Updated)

Posted on December 8, 2010October 17, 2012

**12/9 Update A year-long CR passed the House on 12/8. The legislation includes $5.7 billion to close a shortfall in the Pell Grant program. The process now continues in the Senate. CR Summary**

The House of Representatives is preparing two options for a closeout of the FY11 appropriations process. One option is a year-long continuing resolution (CR) that would fund most government operations at FY10 levels. The CR would generally be a negative outcome for the research agencies and programs that UW depends on. If an amendment to the CR now under consideration in the House is successful, at least one positive outcome is possible for the higher education community. The amendment contains exceptions to level funding, including $5.7 billion to fill a shortfall in the Pell Grant program. Inclusion of the Pell exception in a CR would prevent an estimated 15% cut in award levels for the 2011-12 academic year. The second — more desirable — option for concluding the FY11 process is completion of the spending measures that Congress has been working on this year through a packaging of the bills. The package, known as an omnibus, would allow for increases to agencies of interest such as NIH and NSF. Some reports from the Hill indicate that NIH stands to receive a $750 million increase in an omnibus package. Additionally, the Pell shortfall could also be addressed through an omnibus. The ultimate decision rests with the Senate and will likely be known by December 18th when the current temporary CR expires.

A recently released CR Fact Sheet captures the Pell provision: Continue reading “Pell Grant Fix in House CR (Updated)”

2011 House Schedule Released

Posted on December 7, 2010October 17, 2012

Leaders in the House have released a tentative schedule for calendar year 2011. However, the endgame for the current Congress and the FY11 appropriations process remains uncertain. Passage of appropriations bills for the current fiscal year now rest on the ability of the Senate leadership to garner the necessary 60 votes. It is expected that an outcome on FY11 appropriations will be clear by December 18th, by which time Congress will be required to act in order to continue government operations.

Expected 2011 Congressional Schedule Continue reading “2011 House Schedule Released”

Second Temporary Spending Measure Likely (Updated)

Posted on December 1, 2010October 17, 2012

**12/3 Update: Congress has approved a CR (referenced below) that will last through 12/18, allowing lawmakers additional time to attempt an omnibus spending bill that would closeout the FY11 appropriations process.**

The House of Representatives is close to a vote on a second continuing resolution (CR) that would continue the level funding of government operations through December 18th. The first CR, which expires on Friday 12/3, was necessitated on October 1st when Congress failed to pass appropriations bills in time for the beginning of the new fiscal year. A CR typically provides temporary level funding to allow Congress more time to complete the appropriations process.

At this point, Senate leaders are still pushing to complete the FY11 appropriations process with an omnibus spending bill before Congress adjourns for the year. Such a move would preserve expected increases for research agencies such as NSF and NIH, as well as congressionally directed appropriations (also knows as earmarks) for this cycle. However, emboldened by election wins and increased numbers in the next Congress, Republicans are far less interested in moving forward with FY11 appropriations bills that do not reflect their priorities. It remains possible that Democratic attempts to pass an omnibus spending bill will be filibustered in the Senate, requiring the issue to be punted to the new Congress -where agency/program increases and funding for special projects will be met with significant skepticism.