For the fourth time in the last nine months, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill to extend temporarily the law that governs most federal student-aid programs.
Under the bill (HR 5603), which the House passed by a voice vote this morning, Congress would have until September 30 to complete work on legislation to renew, or reauthorize, the Higher Education Act, which is due to expire at the end of this month. The Senate is expected to approve the measure soon.
Congressional observers say it is unlikely that Congress will be able to meet the September deadline either, so lawmakers will probably have to temporarily extend the law again.
The House passed its version of the reauthorization bill (HR 609) in April. It is unclear when Senate leaders intend to bring their version of the legislation (S 1614) to the Senate floor (The Chronicle, September 16, 2005).
