ICCTA Action Alert
Feb. 14, 2003


The following information is forwarded from Ellynne Bannon of the American Association of Community Colleges.


Congress passes FY 03 spending bills;
House passes restrictive welfare reform

Update: Congress passes final fiscal year 2003 (FY 2003) spending bill with key selected increases to student aid programs and others of interest to community colleges, despite across the board spending cuts for all domestic programs; & the House passes welfare reform legislation (H.R. 4), further restricting educational opportunities for Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) recipients.

I. Final FY 2003 Higher Education Appropriations Figures
Last night both the House and Senate approved a $397.4 billion spending package, with important increases to student aid and priority programs for community colleges. Many of the FY 2003 appropriations levels are above President Bush’s FY 2004 budget requests. Programs that received additional funding* include:
  • A $50 increase in the Pell Grant maximum award, to $4,050;
  • A $7.9 million increase, to $81.5 million, for Title III-A Strengthening Institutions Act;
  • A $12.2 million increase, to $1.9 billion, for Basic State Grants of the Carl D. Perkins Act; and,
  • An increase of about $35 million, to $760 million, for Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG).

    Programs that were funded slightly below FY 2002 levels due to a .65% across the board cut for all education programs include (listed with new FY 2003 funding levels):
  • Tech-Prep Education State Grants, $107.3 million;
  • Tech-Prep Education Demonstration, $4.97 million;
  • Perkins Loans Capital Contributions, $99.3 million;
  • Perkins Loans Cancellations, $66.6 million; and,
  • Federal Work Study, $1.004 billion.

    In addition, the Child Care Means Parents in School Program was cut from $25 million in FY 2002, to $15.9 million in FY 2003.

    Thanks to everyone who sent letters or called their members, asking for increases in funding!

    * Please note that approved funding levels for all domestic programs were subject to an across-the-board cut. All figures listed reflect this cut.


    II. Welfare Legislation Passes the House
    Yesterday the House passed H.R. 4, or The Personal Responsibility, Work and Family Promotion Act of 2003 by a vote of 230-192. H.R. 4 severely limits education and training opportunities, while increasing work requirements. AACC, along with the higher education community opposed the H.R. 4 because it represents a significant step backwards in working towards the goal of ensuring that TANF recipients gain the skills necessary to become, and remain, financially independent.

    Specifically, H.R. 4 limits education and job training by: limiting the amount of time that recipients can engage in education to 4 months in any 24 month period; failing to clarify that adult basic and postsecondary education may count toward meeting the mandatory work requirement; and, increasing the mandated number of work hours for TANF recipients, from 30 to 40, which would make it more difficult for recipients to participate in higher education and job training.

    In addition, two amendments that would have expanded education and job training opportunities were rejected.

    Representative Kucinich (OH) offered an amendment that would have: maintained current work requirements; removed the cap on the number of recipients who can pursue vocational education; and, lifted the time limit on education to give recipients an opportunity to earn a degree.

    Representative Cardin (MD) offered an amendment that would have: expanded State flexibility to provide training and education to welfare recipients (such activities would count for up to 24 months against a State’s participation requirement);and, maintained the current-law requirement on total participation hours (30 per week with a State option to go higher).

    Outlook: The Senate is expected to take up welfare reform this spring, most likely in April. AACC continues to work with members on the Senate side to expand education and job training opportunities.


    AACC supports the following modifications to the TANF program:
  • Eliminating provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act that discourage states from allowing 24 months of vocational and postsecondary education for TANF recipients;
  • Allowing adult basic and postsecondary education to count as a work activity;
  • Lifting the 30% cap for participation in vocational education as a means toward ending welfare dependency;
  • Maintaining the current work requirement of 30 hours a week; and,
  • Opposing any proposals to limit to 3 months the amount of work related training that a TANF recipient would be allowed in any 24 month period.

    For more information on how to help, please contact Ellynne Bannon, Legislative Associate, via e-mail ebannon@aacc.nche.edu or at 202-728-0200, ext. 249.



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