|
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill funding programs operated by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for the federal 2008 fiscal year. The bill is $4.3 billion (or 3.0%) above last year's aggregate funding level, but still $2.9 billion below 2005 levels. For the No Child Left Behind Act, the House legislation provides a $2.0 billion or 8.6 percent increase over fiscal year 2007 and $1 billion over the Administration's request.
The House bill gives a $560 million or 5 percent increase over last year for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B State Grants program and an $800.5 million increase over the Administration's request. This investment stops a two-year decline in the federal contribution toward the rising costs of special education for 6.9 million children with disabilities.
During consideration of the bill numerous amendments were considered, including one offered by Rep. Michael Ferguson (NJ-R) which added $50 million to IDEA Part B. Rep. Ferguson is also a co-sponsor, along with Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-D), of H.R.821, which would provide for the full funding of IDEA.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) received a $750 million increase above 2007 funding which stops a projected cut in new NIH research project awards and supports an additional 992 research grants – $1 billion more than the President's request. The legislation also provides nearly $111 million for the landmark National Children's Study.
The Universal Newborn Hearing program in the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) was increased to $11 million. The fiscal year 2007 comparable level was $9.8 million and the President's budget request for fiscal year 2008 did not include any funds for this program. The Senate Appropriations Committee's bill approved $12 million for this Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. The Senate has not considered this bill yet and is not expected to until sometime later this summer or fall.
For further information, please contact Neil Snyder, ASHA's Director of Federal Advocacy, via e-mail at nsnyder@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4257.
|