Following weeks of behind-the-scenes discussions, the House of Representatives this past week voted 286-140 to approve legislation funding most federal agencies for the remainder of the 2007 fiscal year.

Included in the appropriations bill were some increases of note to U-M and higher education. Specifically, the bill would:

• Increase the maximum Pell grant by $260 to $4310;

• Provide the first increase (2 percent) for the National Institutes of Health since the agency budget was doubled in the late 1990’s;

• Increase funding for the National Science Foundation by 6 percent overall; and

• Appropriate around $500 million in additional research support for the Department of Energy.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces possible amendments. Current funding for most agencies of the government runs out Feb. 15, so the Senate will try to complete its work against the backdrop of that deadline. For further information, contact the Washington office at 202-554-0578.