House Committee Approves H.R. 3221

The House Education and Labor Committee has just approved H.R. 3221, budget "reconciliation" legislation that contains the new community college initiative announced by President Obama last week, as well as additional funding for Pell Grants and other programs. The committee approved a number of amendments, including some to modify the community college initiative. Amendments to the legislation included those dealing with the following issues:

• ensuring 90% of funds to states in the latter years of the community college initiative would be passed through to community colleges.

• provisions to emphasize sector-based workforce development approaches.

• tuition reimbursement policies for students called up to active military duty.

• enactment of some workforce development and veterans programs similar to those found in the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

Details at this moment are scant, so check back in with the AACC Government Relations Blog and AACC website in the coming days for more information. It is not yet known when the full House will consider this legislation, but the Senate is not expected to take up a companion bill until September.