With Congress mired in debates about the budget and Iraq, the legislative calendar already is crowded. But aides said they believe a final agreement on this bill is within reach. “There are staffers here who have worked on this for years,” Nigro said. “It’s a priority for us.”
Minority-serving Institution Technology Bill: A Long, Winding Road
Several House and Senate members, many of them from Virginia, have long championed a bill to address the digital divide at minority-serving institutions. But differences have held up final action.
2003: Senate passes bill to create program, with National Science Foundation as administering agency.
2004: House committee approves bill but would base the program at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Legislation stalls.
2005: Full Senate again approves its version, with NSF as lead agency. House committee approves bill with program headquartered at Commerce. Legislation stalls.
2007: Senate approves plan as part of Higher Education Act amendments, giving responsibility to U.S. Education Department. The full House approves similar bill under the Department of Commerce’s direction. House bill sets first-year program funding at $250 million, while the Senate bill has no specific funding level.
--Charles Dervarics
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