Congress Daily is reporting that Senator Tom Harkin, chairman of the Senate Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations subcommittee, will not offer an amendment to the FY10 supplemental appropriations bill that would include the $23 billion education jobs fund due to a lack of Republican support. Harkin said that he was “confident that a clear majority of senators would support such an amendment,” but that getting 60 votes would not be possible. Since the funding will not be included in the Senate version, the education funding will have to be worked out when the bill is conferenced by the House and Senate. Harkin said he will keep pushing for this money.
The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Dave Obey, does still intend to include the education jobs fund in its supplemental appropriations bill. The committee is scheduled to markup the bill on Thursday. Last week we sent out an action alert urging you to contact your Representatives and asking them to support the inclusion of the education jobs fund in the House emergency supplemental appropriations bill. Please call your member of Congress today!
Chairman Obey will hold a press conference tomorrow with House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller and Education Secretary Duncan to discuss the education jobs fund.
Tags: Congress, federal legislation, funding