Grassley voted to increase funding for education by $5 billion. The money can be used for k-12, special education, or higher education. "One of the most important things about this money is the many things it can be used for. Iowa will be able to distribute the funding where it's needed, not where the federal government dictates," Grassley said.
This funding will be converted into a block grant to states. States will then have complete control and flexibility in dividing these funds.
"We have seen the largest increases in funding for elementary and secondary education in history during the last two years," Grassley said. "We need to make sure that these funding increases are accompanied by real reforms set forth by the No Child Left Behind Act passed by Congress a year ago."
Grassley said that the premise to ensure that all children can learn isn't new to Iowa where a great emphasis is placed on providing a quality education to every child. He said that this funding will continue to help Iowa schools face the extra challenges that may exist as they educate young Iowans.
The Senate considered two of the thirteen annual spending bills for fiscal 2003 before adjourning the 107th Congress. The Senate is now considering an omnibus appropriations bill with the eleven remaining spending bills.