JNCL-NCLIS Analysis of FY24 LHHS-ED Appropriations Bill Markup
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 8th, 2023 - On July 27, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a full-committee markup to consider several bills, including the FY24 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education (LHHS-ED) funding bill. Bypassing a subcommittee markup, the full committee approved the bipartisan spending bill that would provide $79.6 billion in discretionary funding to the Department of Education (ED) in FY24. This topline number is roughly the same as what was appropriated to ED in FY23.
Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) were the sole votes against the bill as it easily advanced out of committee.
Unlike the House LHHS-ED bill, the Senate funds education programs at similar levels as last
year, with modest increases for programs like Title I (+ $175 million), Impact Aid (+ $10 million),
IDEA (+ $175 million), Title IV-A (+ $20 million), and CTE State Grants (+ $40 million). Title II-A
and federal funding for charter schools received level funding. Given the stark differences
between the Senate and House bills, there will be much to reconcile, especially among
programs that were cut by the House LHHS-ED subcommittee altogether. Negotiations between
the two committees will have to hold for at least the next month as Congress has entered
August recess.
Two key language education programs received increases in the Senate bill: ESSA’s Title III (+ $7
million) and the Teacher Quality Partnership Program (+ $13 million). All other priority
programs – Indian Education, Title VI of HEA, Education for Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Native
Education Equity – were level funded. While the increases are modest and some programs did
not see growth, it is much better than the House’s version of the bill, in which funding for many
of these programs was eliminated or cut.
During her opening statement on the LHHS-ED bill, Subcommittee Chair Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
stated that while she wishes they could have invested more, the bill is a bipartisan compromise
to avoid defaulting on our nation’s debt, which is a stark contrast to the House’s LHHS-ED bill.
Further, she stated that the House’s approach to this appropriations cycle threatens a
government shutdown and sequestration to defense and nondefense programs. Subcommittee
Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) highlighted specific increases for Title I and IDEA
but did not mention the House’s bill.
House Appropriations
Despite agreement, House marked up FY24 appropriations bills at FY22 funding levels
FY24 Labor Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education Funding Bill
Massive cuts
$60 billion below FY23
USDE (US Department of Education) $28 billion below FY23
Title II and Title III - eliminated
Title IV - level funded
Title VI HEA (Higher Education Act) - $51 million cut
House Subcommittee passed the bill on a party-line vote
No full committee mark-up due to House Freedom Caucus demanding deeper cuts
Senate Appropriations
Marked up based on IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) top-line
Most programs are level-funded or slightly increased
Title I - +$175 million
Title II - level funded
Title III - +$7 million
Title IV - $20 million
Indian Ed, Education for Native Hawaiians, Alaska Native Ed - level funded
Title VI HEA (Higher Education Act) - level funded
Senate Bill passed committee with a strong bipartisan vote
Below is a breakdown of key K-12 program funding levels:
_______________________________ About JNCL-NCLIS: Established in 1972, the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS) unites a national network of leading organizations and businesses comprised of over 300,000 language professionals to advocate for equitable language learning opportunities. Our mission is to ensure that Americans have the opportunity to learn English and at least one other language. Contact: info@languagepolicy.org