The House and Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 minibus appropriations bill. The bill, that includes appropriations for a few Congressional committees' regular spending bills, provides funding for education.
The legislation flat funds most of NACAC's priority programs with the exception of:
- Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP), funded at $55 million and representing an increase of $3 million from FY 2009;
- Pell Grant Program, funded to set the maximum award at $5,500;
- TRIO, funded at $853 million and representing an increase of $5 million from last year; and
- GEAR UP, funded at $323.2 million and representing an increase of $10 million compared to last year.
In a statement from the Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, Senator Inouye (D-HI) and Representative Obey (D-WI) noted that Pell Grant funding will provide eight million students with financial assistance and funding for TRIO and GEAR UP will assist approximately 1.6 million low-income and first-generation students prepare for, enter, and complete college.
For your reference, NACAC created a chart of priority program funding from FY 2007 to FY 2010. To review additional information, visit NACAC's Budget and Appropriations page.