Collins/Nelson

In an effort to reduce expenditures in the senate stimulus bill, Sen. Collins (Maine) and Nelson (Neb.) crafted an amendment that cut $83 billion from the original bill (floor amendments were not addressed in their recommendations). There appears to be enough votes to adopt the amendment and hence the entire package to move the bill to the house.



Several highlights that affect higher education:

• Maintains the original amount in the bill for Pell Grants;


• Reduces the amount allocated to the National Science Foundation (NSF) by $200 million;


• Eliminates the $3.5 billion for higher education infrastructure;


• Reduces the size of the "State Fiscal Stabilization Fund" by $40 billion;


• Cuts Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) by $50 million.


• Cuts NASA $200 million;


• Sustains the NIH $6.5 billion addition made on the Senate floor for total funding of $10 billion;


• Cuts DOE office of Science $100 million for advanced computing, leaving a total of $330 million for lab construction.

The senate is scheduled to vote on the amendment this evening and possibly on the entire bill Tuesday.



Stay tuned!