Education-Related Panels in the 105th Congress Education and the Workforce

HOUSE

Education and the Workforce Committee

http://www.house.gov/eeo

Relevant jurisdiction:

Authorizing committee on issues relating to elementary and secondary, vocational, and higher education, early childhood programs, and related matters.

Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth, and Families

Relevant jurisdiction:

Measures related to elementary and secondary education, meal programs, Head Start, adult basic education, special education, education research, substance-abuse education, and programs related to arts and humanities.

Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training, and Life-Long Learning

Relevant jurisdiction:

Most higher education legislation, student financial assistance, vocational education and job training, domestic volunteer programs, library services, and construction.

Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Relevant jurisdiction:

All matters related to oversight and investigations of activities of education, human services, and workplace-policy departments and agencies.

Budget Committee

http://www.house.gov/budget/

Relevant jurisdiction:

Budget resolutions and advising Appropriations Committee on spending for education, training, and social services programs.

Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies

http://www.house.gov/appropriations/

Relevant jurisdiction:

Appropriations for the Education Department, the Head Start program in the Health and Human Services Department, Labor Department, including Job Corps, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and related agencies.

SENATE

Labor and Human Resources Committee

http://www.senate.gov/labor/

Relevant jurisdiction:

Most elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education issues, including student loans and early-childhood development; welfare; arts and humanities; and labor standards.

Labor and Human Resources Subcommittee on Children and Families

Relevant jurisdiction:

Issues relating to public and private schools, choice, higher education, child abuse and neglect, child care, the Head Start and Healthy Start programs, foster care, and adoption.

Budget Committee

http://www.senate.gov/budget/

Relevant jurisdiction:

Budget resolutions and advising Appropriations Committee on spending for education and social services programs.

Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education

http://www.senate.gov/appropriations/

Relevant jurisdiction:

Appropriations for the Education Department and most elementary and secondary programs, the Head Start program in the Health and Human Services Department, Labor Department, including Job Corps, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and related agencies.

This Year’s Education-Related Federal Legislation at a Glance

Fiscal 1998 Budget--Congress has passed a nonbinding resolution setting broad spending goals and listing specific education programs it intends to fund in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Under the plan, which has President Clinton’s approval, Congress calls for providing a $35 billion tax break for higher education costs over the next five years and raising the Pell Grant student-aid award from $2,700 to $3,000 next year. It also supports funding Mr. Clinton’s America Reads literacy-tutoring initiative with $260 million next year and raising education spending by $3 billion or more next year. Specific funding levels will be set by congressional appropriators, starting in the House this month. Tax-break language would be included in separate bills this summer. (“Lawmakers Move on 1998 Funding Increases for Education,” May 28, 1997.)

Higher Education--Both the House and Senate have held hearings on reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, which includes financial-aid and teacher-preparation programs. But neither chamber is planning to write a bill before this fall. (“Only Minor Rewriting Seen For Higher Ed. Act,” Feb. 5, 1997.)

National Testing--The Department of Education is spending money to develop a voluntary national assessment of 4th graders’ reading skills and 8th graders’ math knowledge. The test is on track to be administered in 1999. Republicans in Congress are trying to block the department from spending money on test development in the future. So far, their attempts have been thwarted by procedural rules. (“Rep. Goodling Fails To Block Funding for New Tests,” May 21, 1997.)

Special Education--On June 4, President Clinton signed a bill amending the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The new law will rework the program’s funding formula once the federal contribution rises to $4.9 billion, and will allow school districts to reduce their special education spending when the federal contribution passes $4.1 billion. The reauthorization also requires states to set up voluntary mediation systems for settling disputes over a disabled student’s education. (“House, Senate Easily Approve Spec. Ed. Bill,” May 21, 1997.)

Vocational Education--The House Early Childhood, Youth, and Families Subcommittee has begun hearings on reauthorizing the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act. Rep. Frank Riggs, R-Calif., the panel’s chairman, plans to put his proposal up for a vote in the House this summer. The Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee also may take up its vocational education bill this month. (“Hearing Seeks To Put Focus on Integrating Academics, Voc. Ed.,” May 28, 1997.)

For more information on Congress:

Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Office of Legislative Information (LEGIS): (202) 225-1772

On the Internet: http://thomas.loc.gov/