Following a weeks-long drafting and extensive markup process, the House early Saturday morning passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan which closely mirrors President Joe Biden’s initial proposal, unveiled at the outset of his presidency.
The measure passed 219-212 on a near party-line vote, with no Republicans voting in favor of the package and two Democrats breaking party ranks to oppose the relief effort that would allocate $170 billion for education.
It specifically calls for an expansion of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), asking Congress to provide nearly $40 billion in funding to colleges and universities.
The funding would be made available to institutions through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), and would utilize the same allocation formula and allowable uses of funds as the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSA). As was the case with HEERF allocations received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, public and private non-profit institutions receiving new funds would be required to spend at least 50% of their allocation on emergency financial aid grants provided directly to students, and proprietary institutions would be required to spend 100% of their allocations on student grants.