In one of Congress' final actions before the August recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee last week advanced a bill to fund the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related agencies. The bill passed out of committee on a bipartisan basis by a vote ot 25-3.While the funding levels included in the bill are below those requested by the Student Aid Alliance, they are substantially higher than those approved by a House subcommittee in June. According to a summary, the bill would:
Increase by $100 the maximum Pell Grant, raising it to $7,495;
Level-fund Federal Work-Study and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant;
Increase funding for TRIO, GEAR UP, Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program, the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program, and the Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program; and
Provide an additional $100 million to support student aid program administration, such as implementing the FAFSA.
Earlier in July, the committee approved the FY 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which provides $9.55 billion for the National Science Foundation, a $490 million or 5.4 percent increase from FY 2024. This includes up to $200 million for the Regional Innovation Engines program authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act. The bill also provides $25.4 billion for NASA, a $559 million increase from FY 2024.
The House Appropriations Committee has completed markups on all 12 of its appropriations bills, but only five have been passed by the full House. The full Senate has yet to pass any.
Because government funding runs out on Sept. 30, Congress will likely need to enact a stopgap measure to prevent a shutdown. Future action could depend on the outcome of the election, but it is highly likely that a stopgap measure will extend until after the election.