Updated: Sept. 26, 2008
The House passed (370-58) on Wednesday a stopgap comprehensive spending measure to keep the government funded and running after the government’s new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1. According to CQ, the spending measure funds most government programs at FY08 levels through March 6, when new spending bills can be worked out with a new president. The bill will provide $2.5 billion for Pell grants, funding AAUW lobbied for. Certain programs, such as military construction and the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs received sizable increases in funding, and the bill also included money for disaster relief and home heating assistance for low income families. The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 2638) did not, however, include other economic stimulus programs such as an extension of unemployment insurance, food stamps, and state Medicare funding. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation on Saturday.
Both chambers of Congress continued to work on a deal with the Bush administration over a financial bailout package that could be as large as $700 billion. AAUW signed on to a coalition letter that stressed that the rescue of Wall Street include strong measures to ensure that the plan operates as intended, protects the interests of taxpayers as well as those in danger of losing their homes, and disciplines those who made this rescue necessary. Women’s eNews and other groups looked at the possible effect legislation could have on government spending on programs that aid low-income people, most of whom are women.
On Friday, the Senate failed (52-42) to reach the 60 votes needed to proceed on a $56 billion economic stimulus package (S. 3604) that would extend unemployment benefits and provide funds for food stamps, school building repair, job training, and state Medicaid plans, according to CQ. AAUW had sent a letter to members of Congress in support of this legislation. The bill also included a provision that would have restored and protected access to discounted birth control prices for university-based and safety-net clinics, similar to the AAUW-supported Prevention through Affordable Access Act (H.R. 4054/S. 2347). The Bush administration cited this provision as one of the many measures they found objectionable, which lead them to issue a veto threat before the vote occurred. The House is expected to vote on a similar economic stimulus package on Friday; however, the House bill does not contain the contraception pricing fix provision.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for Sept. 26, 2008.
On Wednesday, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced plans to put off moving a second emergency supplemental spending package, according to CQ. The article reports that the Democratic leadership will wait for action on the House side, which will not act on the package until after the August recess.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for July 25, 2008.
According to the CQ Budget Tracker, the struggle to pass the 12 spending bills for FY09 will continue. The House Appropriations Committee has hit a road block as Chairman David Obey (D-WI) has indicated that he will not work with members across the aisle until they are willing to come to the table in a civil manner. Negotiations between members of the committee broke down after the Republicans continued to press for movement on the Interior Department spending bill. The House Appropriations Committee has passed five of the 12 spending bills, and it was initially hoped that all 12 would clear the House floor before the August recess.
Democratic leaders continue to say they will likely use a continuing resolution to fund the government through early 2009, pushing off sending appropriations bills to the White House until after a new administration is in place. CQ reported that Senate appropriators are planning to move ahead with a second supplemental spending bill to give legislators another chance to move spending priorities before new appropriations bills are enacted. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (D-WV) said Thursday that the committee will mark up a bill on July 22. There is also lingering talk in the House of moving a second economic stimulus bill this year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Tuesday that the Senate wouldn’t be able to act on a second economic stimulus package before September.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for July 11, 2008.
On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed (26-3) the FY09 spending bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. CQ reported that the $153.1 billion spending bill includes $7.7 billion more in discretionary spending than the president’s request. The spending bill included increases in funding for Pell Grants, No Child Left Behind, and school grants. The bill also provides funding equal to FY08 levels for Title X family planning programs and includes a 25 percent reduction in funding for community-based abstinence-only education programs, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families.
A House version of the bill stalled Thursday when Republicans offered an amendment to replace the text of the bill with the text of the appropriations bill for the Interior Department, which contains a controversial provision regarding drilling for oil as a response to high gas prices, in a move designed to move that bill forward. Democrats adjourned the committee meeting, and Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) threatened to halt future appropriations movement for the rest of the year.
AAUW believes that the Senate version of this spending bill takes many positive steps. AAUW firmly believes that increased funding for Pell Grants, No Child Left Behind, and school grants will allow for overall improvement in education. Additionally, funding for Title X and a reduction in abstinence-only funding are initiatives that AAUW believes are important in today’s society.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for June 28, 2008.
The House passed (416-12) the AAUW-supported domestic priorities amendment to the emergency supplemental bill. The amended bill will fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The amendment includes funding for domestic priorities, such as an extension of unemployment insurance benefits for those who have lost their jobs and expanded education benefits for veterans that are transferable to their families. The Senate is expected to take up the bill next week and the White House has indicated that the president will sign it.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for June 21, 2008.
The House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies marked-up its FY09 appropriations bill on Thursday, June 19. The bill includes funding for such AAUW education priorities, including increasing Pell Grants up to a maximum of $4,410. The bill moves next to a full-committee mark-up on June 26.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for June 21, 2008.
After Congress passed the final version of the FY09 budget resolution (S. Con Res. 70) last week, House Appropriations subcommittees began making up the 12 annual appropriations bills this week. As President Bush has said he would veto bills that exceed his spending requests, Democrats in Congress will likely wait until a new president takes office next year to pass appropriations bills that authorize spending. However, House Democratic leaders have said they intend to pass 10 of the 12 bills out of committee before the July 4th recess. According to CQ, Senate appropriators are expected to begin marking up the bills next week.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies unanimously approved a $56.8 billion FY09 spending bill, representing an increase of $5 billion over last year’s bill. According to Inside Higher Ed, the subcommittee shifted about $50 million from research and related activities to education activities, a recognition of America’s need for increased investments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. The bill would also appropriate approximately $26 billion for activities related to the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) ACT (H.R. 2272), a bill that AAUW supported.
AAUW is pleased that the budget resolution provides for increased discretionary funding for education, training, and social services over the president's proposal. The additional funding provided by the House and Senate budget resolutions will allow Congress to improve No Child Left Behind programs, fund the Higher Education Act, improve U.S. global competitiveness, and support other vital education programs that are critical to moving key AAUW priorities forward and improving educational opportunity for all.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for June 13, 2008.
The Senate passed (48-45) the final version of the FY09 budget resolution Wednesday, and the House followed (214-210) on Thursday. This represents the first time that a budget resolution has been adopted in an election year since 2000. CQ reported that the Budget Resolution Conference Report (S. Con. Res. 70) would provide nearly $24.5 billion more than President Bush’s budget requested for discretionary spending. As the president has said he would veto bills that exceed his spending requests, Democrats in Congress will likely wait until a new president takes office next year to pass appropriations bills that authorize spending. The House Appropriations subcommittees are not expected to wait long, however, before they begin to start making up the 12 annual appropriations bills. The House and Senate originally passed their own versions of the budget resolution in March.
AAUW is pleased that the budget resolution provides for increased discretionary funding for education, training, and social services over the president's proposal. Congress’ budget blueprint also rejects the president's proposals to create additional voucher programs while eliminating 48 education programs. The additional funding provided by the House and Senate budget resolutions will allow Congress to improve No Child Left Behind programs, fund the Higher Education Act, improve U.S. global competitiveness, and support other vital education programs that are critical to moving key AAUW priorities forward and improving educational opportunity for all.
The budget resolution is a pivotal step in the budget process. While it does not carry the force of law, a budget resolution establishes an overall outline for federal spending and revenue generation as Congress develops the federal budget for the coming fiscal year. As such, it should reflect the nation's priorities. AAUW is pleased that the budget resolution conference report passed reflects the priorities of working Americans by restoring funding to critical education and social service programs.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for June 6, 2008.
The Senate passed (75-22) an amendment to the emergency supplemental funding bill Thursday that includes provisions to expand GI Bill educational benefits for veterans, CQ reported. The amendment would allocate approximately $50 billion for these benefits, similar to S. 22, introduced by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). AAUW supports S. 22 and supports increasing access to higher education for all Americans. In addition, the Senate version of the supplemental bill includes provisions from the Prevention through Affordable Access Act (H.R. 4054/S. 2347) to restore and protect access to discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics. While the White House had threatened to veto the bill for including domestic spending priorities, the bill passed the Senate with a veto-proof majority. The House originally passed the amendment last week and will consider the Senate’s amended version after the Memorial Day recess.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for May 23, 2008.
The House passed (256-166) an amendment to the emergency supplemental funding bill Thursday that includes provisions to expand GI Bill educational benefits for veterans, CQ.com reported. The amendment would allocate approximately $50 billion for these benefits, similar to S. 22, introduced by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA). The Senate Appropriations Committee also held a markup of their version of the supplemental bill Thursday, which also includes GI benefits. AAUW supports S. 22 and supports increasing access to higher education for all Americans. In addition, the Senate version of the supplemental bill includes provisions from the Prevention through Affordable Access Act (H.R. 4054/S. 2347) to restore and protect access to discount drug prices for university-based and safety-net clinics.
ACTION: If you haven’t yet done so, use AAUW’s Two-Minute Activist to urge your senators to support the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act. For more information, read AAUW’s position paper on reproductive rights.
The House and Senate also came to an informal agreement on the budget resolution conference report and named conferees this week. The conference report is expected to come to the floors of both chambers for votes next week. The budget resolution is a pivotal step in the budget process. While it does not carry the force of law, a budget resolution establishes an overall outline for federal spending and revenue generation as Congress develops the federal budget for the coming fiscal year. As such, it should reflect the nation's priorities. AAUW is pleased that the House and Senate resolutions passed in March reflect the priorities of working Americans by restoring funding to critical education and social service programs.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for May 16, 2008.
According to CQ, the House and Senate Budget Committee chairmen and the group of fiscally conservative House Democrats known as the Blue Dogs struck a compromise over taxes on Tuesday that will make it easier to adopt a budget resolution for the upcoming fiscal year. At odds in the two chambers were provisions regarding following “pay-as-you-go” rules as they relate to the alternative minimum tax and a second stimulus package. Under the agreement, a Senate provision allowing for a $35 billion stimulus package without cost offsets will be dropped. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Wednesday that he was doubtful that a second economic stimulus package could be completed before Congress’ Memorial Day recess.
The budget resolution is a pivotal step in the budget process. While it does not carry the force of law, a budget resolution establishes an overall outline for federal spending and revenue generation as Congress develops the federal budget for the coming fiscal year. As such, it should reflect the nation's priorities. AAUW is pleased that the House and Senate resolutions passed in March reflect the priorities of working Americans by restoring funding to critical education and social service programs.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for May 2, 2008.
Following days of debate and a 15-hour “vote-a-rama” session on a long series of amendments on Thursday, the Senate passed (51-44) their FY09 budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 70) in the early hours of the morning on Friday. The House passed (212-207) their FY09 budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 312) earlier on Thursday evening. Congressional leaders will now conduct conference negotiations to work out the differences in the two resolutions passed by the House and Senate. AAUW is pleased that both the House and Senate resolutions provide for increased discretionary funding for education, training, and social services over the president's proposal. Both budget resolutions also reject the president's proposals to create additional voucher programs while eliminating 48 education programs. The additional funding provided by the House and Senate budget resolutions will allow Congress to improve No Child Left Behind programs, fund the Higher Education Act, improve U.S. global competitiveness, and support other vital education programs that are critical to moving key AAUW priorities forward and improving educational opportunity for all.
Of particular interest was an amendment offered by Sens. Pryor (D-AR) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) that would create a reserve fund for drop-out prevention programs to improve student achievement and retention among middle and high schools. The amendment passed by unanimous consent.
The budget resolution is a pivotal step in the budget process. While it does not carry the force of law, a budget resolution establishes an overall outline for federal spending and revenue generation as Congress develops the federal budget for the coming fiscal year. As such, it should reflect the nation's priorities. AAUW is pleased that the House and Senate passed their resolutions that reflect the priorities of working Americans by restoring funding to critical education and social service programs, and we thank AAUW members and supporters who used our Two-Minute Activist to urge their representative and senators to support these resolutions. For detailed information on the budget resolutions, including a fact-checking fact sheet on some of the statements made by members of Congress during the budget debates, see the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
- from AAUW's Washington Update for March 8, 2008.