Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chair of the Senate Heath, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, blocked legislation yesterday that would have provided short-term funding for Title III minority-serving institutions of higher education, Inside Higher Education reports. Previously this week, Senator Alexander indicated that he would like to pass "piecemeal" legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act on areas where there is bipartisan agreement (which included, among other things, funding for minority-serving institutions); however, Senate Democrats are not yet on board with this proposal, arguing that a more comprehensive reauthorization is needed.
From Inside Higher Education: "The move illustrates the urgency Alexander feels to pass major higher education legislation before he retires after next year. Efforts to reach a bipartisan deal for a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act have been stalled for months. And the piecemeal approach outlined by Alexander would allow him to accomplish some top priorities."
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