September 29, 2003

By a vote of 94-0, the Senate passed H.R. 2660 September 10, "The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004."

The Senate appointed the following conferees on the bill: Senators Arlen Specter (PA), Thad Cochran (MS), Judd Gregg (NH), Larry Craig (ID), Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), Ted Stevens (AK), Mike DeWine (OH), Richard Shelby (AL), Pete Domenici (NM), Tom Harkin (IA), Ernest Hollings (SC), Daniel Inouye (HI), Harry Reid (NV), Herbert Kohl (WI), Patty Murray (WA), Mary Landrieu (LA), and Robert Byrd (WV). The House conferees have yet to be announced. There is less of a pronounced difference between the two budget bills than in the past. It may signal the opportunity to have a Labor, HHS and Education budget before September 30, but this is not a prediction.

On September 9th, the Committee for Education Funding released new poll findings showing that education remains the most important federal spending priority when setting aside spending for the military and homeland security. 38 percent of American adults chose education. This was 10 and 22 percentage points higher than prescription drug benefits and tax cuts respectively, the next two highest ranked responses. Results reveal that 89 percent of respondents believe that more than 5 cents of every federal budget dollar should be spent on education instead of the current 2.8 cents. Also, 85 percent of respondents cited "wanting today's students from preschool through college to have the same or better opportunities as previous generations" as a reason to increase federal funding for education.

Workforce Investment

Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) was successful in an amendment September 4, which would add $25 million to the Dislocated Worker programs at the U.S. Department of Labor or $1.481 billion. The House figure is $1.461 billion.

Youth Funding is $1.1 billion in both House and Senate; adult funding is $900 million in both House and Senate. Youth Opportunity Grants are zero funded in both House and Senate. The Senate also includes $54.6 million for the Reintegration of Youth Offenders program, but this is not included in the House figures.