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Washington, DC -- Just as the U.S. House of Representatives is facing a budget reconciliation bill to cut vital services for American families and increase costs to students in pursuit of higher education, a major appropriations bill that would have cut federal funding support for K-12 education was defeated.
Moments ago, a bipartisan majority voted down H.R. 3010, the Labor-Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2006. The bill would have cut nearly $1.5 billion in critical education, health care and job assistance programs. It failed by a vote of 209 to 224.
Congressman Wu is particularly concerned not only with the $784 million cut to K-12 education in the HHS appropriations bill, but also with the $15 billion cut for higher education in the budget reconciliation bill to be voted on later today.
This month marks the 40th Anniversary of the Higher Education Act, but instead of commemorating it by reaffirming our commitment to education and opportunity for all, Congress is scheduled to vote on the largest federal college financial aid cuts in our history.
Congressional Republican leaders are on the verge of cutting approximately $15 billion in federal college financial aid (as well as healthcare and other vital services) in order to provide a $70 billion package of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, half with incomes over $1 million per year.
"This raid on student aid breaks the (formerly) bipartisan commitment to education and opportunity for all," stated Congressman Wu. "It is wrong to cut financial aid for students and families already struggling to pay for college."
Earlier this year, a bipartisan effort found savings and efficiencies to be had in college financial aid. Congressman Wu believes these funds should be reinvested by boosting Pell Grants and making college loans more accessible, rather than tax breaks for millionaires.
Congressman Wu continued, "The administration and Congressional Republican leaders have a choice to make: provide more tax breaks for a chosen few, or more opportunity for all."
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