"President Bush late Friday sent Congress amendments to his fiscal 2009 budget, including an increase of more than $172 million for a computer overhaul of the USDA's Farm Service Agency and for costs associated with the recently enacted farm bill," Congress Daily reports. "Within the Education Department, the White House proposed a $50 million increase for the Office of Federal Student Aid to implement student loan purchase authority provided in student loan legislation signed into law last May. The increase would pay for increased servicing costs associated with any increase in the direct loan volume; implement the Lender of Last Resort program authorized in the Higher Education Act and conduct an independent audit of the student loan purchase authority."