Capital Update tracks the movement of legislation, the introduction of notable bills, and routine regulatory announcements.
Legislative Action
Abortion Counseling
S 323
The Senate this month approved legislation to permit federally funded family planning clinics to advise clients about abortion.
America 2000
H R 2460, S 1141
The House Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education continued hearings this month on the Administration’s education strategy.
Drug-Abuse Prevention
The House Subcommittee on Human Resources on July 18 held a hearing on the reauthorization of drug-abuse-prevention programs for runaways, homeless youths, and gang members.
Educational Television
The Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts, and Humanities last week held the first in a planned series of hearing on educational television.
Fiscal 1992 Education Budget
H R 2707
The House and Senate Appropriations committees have approved fiscal 1992 spending bills for the Education Department. The full Senate was expected to consider its bill this week.
Head Start
S 911
The Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee in late June approved legislation that would make Head Start an entitlement program, at an estimated annual cost of $8 billion.
Higher Education Act
House and Senate subcommittees continued hearings this month on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
Hispanics and Higher Education
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus last week unveiled its proposal for amending the Higher Education Act. The bill features an outreach program for elementary- and secondary-school students, teacher-training proposals, a student-aid program for migrant students, and data-collection requirements.
Literacy
H R 751
The Congress this month gave final approval to a comprehensive literacy bill.
Noise Pollution
The House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families held a hearing last week on the effect of loud music on children’s hearing.
Pell Grants
S 1499
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, this month introduced legislation that would raise the maximum Pell Grant to $4,500 and expand eligibility to students from families with incomes up to $47,180.
School Year
The House Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education held a hearing last week on proposals to lengthen the school year.
Student-Loan Defaults
S 1503
Senator Sam Nunn, Democrat of Georgia, last week introduced legislation aimed at removing subpar proprietary schools from federal student-aid programs.
In the Education Department
Special Education
Personnel Training
Proposed Regulations
The Education Department announced in the June 14 Federal Register that it will amend regulations for the personnel-training component of the Education of the Handicapped Act.
Emotionally Disturbed Children
Funding Priorities
The Education Department in the June 19 Federal Register published proposed funding priorities and selection criteria for the new Children and Youth With Serious Emotional Disturbance program.
In Other Agencies
School Breakfasts
Final Regulations
The Agriculture Department issued final regulations for a program to increase the number of schools participating in the school-breakfast program. The regulations were announced in the July 2 Federal Register.
School Meals
The Agriculture Department has increased reimbursements for school breakfasts and lunches by about 3 percent for the coming school year. The change was announced in the July 10 Federal Register.
Transition to Work
Availability of Grants
The departments of Labor and Health and Human Services announced in the July 3 Federal Register that they will award grants for model demonstration projects that provide transition-to-work services to handicapped youths between the ages of 13 and 25.
