As the end of the 2009 fiscal year draws near, Congressional leaders are openly talking about stopgap legislation to keep the government operating for an additional 30 days. Yesterday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that the House will pass a continuing resolution this week that would keep the government funded at current levels through Oct. 31.

The House has passed all 12 of its spending bills, including the Labor, HHS, and Education appropriations spending bill (H.R. 3293) before the August recess. That bill would provide level funding for most Title IV discretionary programs. The bill would set the appropriated amount of the Pell Grant to a maximum award of $4,860. A scheduled mandatory increase from the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) would add an additional $690 to the appropriated amount, bringing the total Federal Pell Grant to $5,550 for the 2010-11 award year.

The Senate has not moved as quickly as the House, mostly due to judicial nominations and healthcare debate. The Senate has only passed five spending bills, none of which have been conferenced with House bills. A Senate education spending bill has yet to make it to the Senate floor, although a spending bill was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee in July and holds most Title IV programs at level funding.

Posted 09/23/09 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.