The University Record, May 22, 1995
U.S. House, Senate Budget committees submit proposals
By Jared Blank
The budget committees in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have completed markups of their federal budget proposals. The House passed its proposal last Thursday, and the Senate is debating its resolution this week. Upon passage by their respective bodies, a joint committee will work out a compromise between the two proposals, return the bill to the House and Senate for approval and finally send the compromise to the President. The following are some of the House and Senate proposals for programs affecting higher education.
Federal Family Education Loan Program:
House: Would eliminate the in-school interest exemption on student loans for all students, saving an estimated $18.7 billion over seven years.
Senate: Would eliminate the in-school interest exemption for graduate and professional students and cancel the scheduled interest rate reduction, saving $14 billion over seven years.
Pell Grants:
House and Senate: Would freeze appropriations at current level for seven years. Maximum award would not be adjusted to reflect inflation.
Scholarships and Fellowships:
House: Would eliminate National Science Scholars, Douglas Teacher Scholarships, Harris Fellowships, Javits Fellowships, Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need, Faculty Development Fellowships and would phase out Byrd Scholarships.
Senate: Does not propose cuts in specific programs.
TRIO: (programs to encourage disadvantaged students to attend college)
House: Would eliminate TRIO programs, saving $3.3 billion over seven years.
Senate: No mention of eliminating the program.
Perkins Loans:
House: Proposes discontinuing Perkins Loan Capital Contributions, saving $1.1 billion over seven years.
Senate: No mention of eliminating the program.
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH):
House: NEA and NEH would be phased out over three years.
Senate: NEA and NEH would receive a 50 percent cut in funding over seven years.
National Science Foundation (NSF):
House: Would give small increases for most NSF research accounts.
Senate: Would cut $100 million–wants NSF to focus on “basic research.”
National Institutes of Health:
House: Proposes 5 percent reduction for the first year, then level funding for six years.
Senate: Proposes 10 percent reduction over seven years.
Departments:
House: Would eliminate Departments of Energy, Education and Commerce.
Senate: Would eliminate Department of Commerce.
