This week education committees in the U.S. House began their work on both budgetary and policy issues that will likely be the focus of much of their work during this Congress.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee, formerly the Education and Labor Committee, convened on Tuesday for its first meeting of the 112th Congress.
 
Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) opened the organizational meeting by welcoming committee members and highlighting the unique challenges the committee faces. 

At the meeting, members voted upon a set of rules that will govern the committee in the 112th Congress. Veteran member Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) introduced an amendment to the rules that would have protected many education programs from spending cuts. The amendment reads:
 
“The Committee shall not report any bill or other matter that, with respect to matters within the Committee’s jurisdiction, (1) abolishes the Department of Education, (2) reduces the maximum Pell grant award, (3) eliminates student aid programs, or (4) otherwise has the effect of threatening student achievement and the nation’s global competiveness, including by reducing funding for programs that aid disabled or disadvantaged students.”
 
The amendment failed 22 to 17.