The Senate version of the Labor-HHS-Education spending bill was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 27. It would provide a total of $1.2 billion in funding for the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program which provides grants to institutions of higher education to help students meet the costs of postsecondary education. $900 million would be allotted for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program, which provides funds to institutions of higher education for need based grants to students through part-time employment. Both programs are facing $10 million in cuts compared to fiscal year (FY) 2023 levels. Final funding bills must now be negotiated upon Congress' return to Washington in September where they will work quickly to resolve several spending debates before the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1.
Here's how you can become involved in the process: The Student Aid Alliance has provided a resource to easily inform Congress on the importance of funding these programs. The Contact Congress tool on the Student Aid Alliance website allows you to send a message to Congress to oppose cuts to student aid funding. By entering your name and address, you send the template message, or create a personal message on FWS and SEOG funding to your local Representative and Senators. A letter sent in response to the House draft bill and Senate bill by the Student Aid Alliance can be found here.
CSWE encourages the use of the Contact Congress tool during August to increase grassroots advocacy for educational funding.
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Madison Lambert
Legislative Research Assistant
Lewis-Burke Associates LLC
Washington D.C.
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