Pell Provision Dropped, Senate Passes Student-Aid Bill

By Mark Pitsch

WASHINGTON--After dropping the most contentious component of a bill reauthorizing the Higher Education Act and deferring consideration of another controversial proposal, the Senate late last month handily passed the measure by a 93-to-1 vote.

Few other significant changes were made to S 1150, which would authorize $57 billion for student-aid and other higher-education programs over five years.

Senate Democrats agreed to drop a provision making the Pell Grant an entitlement in fiscal year 1997 after it appeared that the provision would...