The United States Senate last week passed an omnibus spending measure that shot down a Department of Education proposal to change the federal aid formula while also approving many transportation and building projects throughout Virginia.
In a 65 to 28 vote, the Senate approved the bill, which included increased funding for the National Institutes of Health, the largest single source for university research grants, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.
In December, the House approved the same spending legislation in a 242 to 276 vote. The appropriations bill is for the fiscal year 2004, which began Oct. 1, and includes appropriations for seven government agencies.
The legislation also features a 3.7 percent jump in NIH funding, a $1 billion increase over the 2003 budget, as reported by the Chronicle.
The NIH is an agency in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services charged for the last decade and a half with fostering and furthering health research.
In the fiscal year 2002-2003, the University received $145 million in NIH grants, representing a little over half of all sponsored funds the University received, according to Jeffrey Plank, University associate vice president for research and graduate studies.
If the NIH offers more competitive grants with the infusion of funds, assuming President Bush signs the legislation, Plank said the University would aggressively pursue the new money.
The offices of Sens. John Warner and George Allen, both R-Va., trumpeted the passage of the bill, which includes a $6.5-million infrastructure project at George Mason University and James Madison University, a $20 million extension of the Dulles Corridor Rapid Transportation Project, $83 million for the construction of a new federal courthouse in Richmond and funding for other projects throughout the Commonwealth.
In a blow to tuition-paying college students, the maximum award for Pell Grants was not increased from $4,050, extending the consecutive years without an increase to three.
Director of Student Financial Services Yvonne Hubbard said she was disappointed funding for the grants were not even increased to maintain pace with rising costs of living.
Hubbard characterized the need-based Pell Grant as the "foundation for the federal government support for students in higher education."
In his State of Union address last week, Bush proposed an increase in Pell Grants for students who take a "rigorous curriculum."
Ultimately, Hubbard said she would like to see the awards be increased to cover tuition and hopes Bush will push his professed support for the need-based scholarships through Congress.
"Every year I have hope," Hubbard said. "I enter every year with optimism."
According to University student financial services, 1,200 students on Grounds receive the need-based grants. Awards to University students this year totaled $2.7 million.
The omnibus spending legislation also included funding increases for a wide swath of government initiatives including additional funding for historically black colleges and Americorps.
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