Congress Returns to Act on Reauthorization, Budget

Congressional action on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and federal spending for student-aid programs is expected to pick up when Congress reconvenes on Sept. 6.

Activity in the House
During the first two weeks after Congress reconvenes, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce is expected to re-report its Higher Education Act reauthorization bill — this time to meet its budget-reconciliation instruction. Although the panel previously reported out reauthorization legislation, it may have to find additional savings to meet requirements of the congressional budget resolution to cut spending on government entitlement programs. The committee will submit this legislative text and report language to the budget committee by Sept. 16.

It is uncertain whether the Committee on Education and the Workforce will report the entire bill or just the savings provisions for reconciliation.

Activity in the Senate
The Senate is moving forward with its reauthorization package drafted during the August recess. Staff members to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions expect a Sept. 7 committee markup of the Senate’s reauthorization bill. The Senate bill will include budget-reconciliation provisions and will be reported to the Senate Budget Committee by Sept.16.

If Higher Education Act reauthorization is not passed and signed into law by Sept. 30, legislation extending current provisions of the law will have to be enacted.

Summary of anticipated time line of activities

Sept. 6	House and Senate reconvene.
Sept. 7	Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’ markup of Higher Education Act reauthorization bill. The Senate HEA bill will include budget-reconciliation provisions.
Sept. 6–15	House Education and Workforce Committee meeting to re-report the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill.
Sept. 16	House and Senate authorizing committees are required to submit budget-reconciliation legislative text to the budget committees.
Sept. 30	The end of the 2005 federal fiscal year. If legislation to reauthorize the HEA has not been passed, an extension of the current provisions of the HEA must be enacted.

USA Funds Education Access Report will detail reauthorization updates and any changes to expected Congressional activity in the coming weeks. The USA Funds Web site offers further information about reauthorization.