ACA ALERT: Congress Passes Massive Spending Bill; Adjourns for the Year

Nearly three months into the new fiscal year, Congress finally approved this week a massive $473.5-billion omnibus spending bill. President Bush has said that he will sign the measure. The bill ( H.R. 2764 ) is known as an omnibus because it encompasses 11 of the 12 annual spending bills, including funding for labor, health and education programs, for FY 2008 (the Department of Defense spending bill was signed into law earlier this year).

While the omnibus bill provides an increase of $1.94 billion for Department of Education programs above last year's funding-- Pell grants will receive a slight increase and there is increased funding for a few programs under No Child Left Behind-- it either level funds or cuts a majority of the student financial aid programs and most other NCLB programs by 1.7% for a total of $501 million. pOne the bright side, the omnibus bill provides the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) with $48.6 million for next year. This is a $14 million increase over last year, and the highest funding level yet for the program! Funding the ESSCP at $48.6 million will, for the first time, allow middle and high schools to apply for grants. Historically, the ESSCP has provided provides grants only for elementary schools (e.g., K-5) because the statutory trigger of $40 million has never been met. Funds beyond $40 million, the base amount for elementary programs, may then be used in middle and high schools. Under the omnibus spending bill, $8.6 million will now be available for secondary schools beginning next year. The Department of Education is currently accepting application for the 2008-09 school year (visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/elseccounseling/applicant.html, for more information and to apply).