House Passes Higher-Ed Bill.

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Author: Smallen, JillMitchell, CharlieFriel, Brian

The Week on the Hill

The House on March 30 voted 221-199 to approve a much-delayed bill renewing higher-education programs, over the opposition of Democrats. The two-day debate exposed some of the partisan divisions that have plagued efforts to reauthorize the 1998 Higher Education Act, which Congress has temporarily extended four times amid disagreements over funding levels and policy matters since the law expired in September 2004. Easing this week's action, the most-divisive higher-education issues were actually resolved in the fiscal 2006 budget reconciliation bill that President Bush signed in February. That bill included $12 billion in savings from student-loan programs. Republicans said the money came from cuts to lender subsidies and from fairer loan rules, but Democrats said the savings came from students' pockets. During this week's debate, Democrats tried, but failed, to restore all or part of those funds. The reauthorization act raises the authorized limit on Pell Grants from $5,800 per year per student to $6,000 -- although current appropriations levels limit grants to $4,050. The legislation also gives students more options for consolidating student loans and imposes reporting requirements on colleges with fast-rising tuition rates. Republicans said the bill boosts access to college, while Democrats dubbed it "The Missed College Opportunities Act."

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By Jill Smallen; Charlie Mitchell and Brian Friel, National Journal