Congress to vote on funding bill
12/20/05 -- House and Senate negotiators agreed to a new fiscal year 2006 spending bill Dec. 12 that would fund education programs at what NSBA.believes are woefully inadequate levels.
The House and Senate were preparing to vote on the conference report for the appropriations bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education departments as this edition of School Board News was going to press.
The conferees had renegotiated a new bill because the House had rejected an earlier version of the conference report in November. The new conference report adds some money for health programs but does not restore any of the cuts in education programs.
The bill would provide just $12.8 billion for Title I for 2006, rather than the $22.75 billion authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act. And it would provide just $10.7 billion for special education, while the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 authorized $14.6 billion.
NSBA Associate Executive Director Michael A. Resnick says, “NSBA urges Congress to reject the revised conference report, as well as any subsequent across-the-board cuts to domestic programs that would affect education.”
Before adjourning for the year, Congress also was expected to vote on new hurricane relief, including aid for schools. The measure, which could include private school vouchers, was likely to be added to the Defense Department appropriations bill, which was expected to be the final major piece of legislation to be considered this year. NSBA opposes efforts to use hurricane relief as a vehicle for creating a national voucher program.
Senate action on the tax cut reconciliation bill is likely to be delayed until 2006. The bill approved by the House Dec. 8 extends the tax deductions for teachers’ purchase of instructional supplies and extends the authorization of Qualified Zone Academy Bonds for school construction and modernization.
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