Members of the House of Representatives last week approved a bill that would reauthorize the federal vocational-education program for the next five years.
The measure, HR 4164, was approved by a vote of 373 to 4 after House members agreed to a number of amendments to the final bill, including one that would prohibit the use of federal funds to purchase equipment when there is a conflict of interest. (See story on page 13.)
The Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts, and Humanities will consider a similar vocational-reauthorization measure during a mark-up session scheduled for later this month.
The House bill would authorize “such sums as necessary” over the next five years to support state and local vocational programs. The current authorization ceiling for programs funded under the Vocational Education Act of 1963, which is scheduled to expire on Sept. 30, is about $735 million.
Under the provisions of the bill, school districts would be required to spend a percentage of their basic grant on the handicapped and disadvantaged, and on postsecondary and adult programs.
