Hello, Below are some updates on the Coronavirus relief package and other activity on the Hill. Coronavirus Relief Package: House committees have sent their coronavirus relief measures to the Budget Committee as they move ahead on the $1.9 trillion stimulus package. The House is expected to hold a floor vote on the package as early as next week. The Senate Budget Committee does not plan to hold a markup of the House bill, instead sending it straight to the floor. Senate is in recess this week. The expectation is that the final bill will be signed into law by March 14, as that is the expiration date of some unemployment benefits. Read the full Education and Labor<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fedlabor.house.gov%2Fimo%2Fmedia%2Fdoc%2FFY21%2520Budget%2520Reconciliation%2520Budget%2520Reconciliation.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cabernathy%40acg-consultants.com%7Cd8238948a6cc4393764608d8cc6f2ceb%7C614785f296d34d26804ed0aa5843d4d3%7C0%7C0%7C637484125162869811%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=ilNe6c93IThghC8Ayj35imz61Hzi%2BeeHtHVrCoZRUcM%3D&reserved=0> budget reconciliation bill. Also, here is a Fact Sheet<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fedlabor.house.gov%2Fimo%2Fmedia%2Fdoc%2F2021-02-08%2520Budget%2520Reconciliation%2520Bill%2520Fact%2520Sheet%2520FINAL.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cabernathy%40acg-consultants.com%7Cd8238948a6cc4393764608d8cc6f2ceb%7C614785f296d34d26804ed0aa5843d4d3%7C0%7C0%7C637484125162879806%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=uT2BB%2B8OIsbrZ6NfWDpxLFtFz%2B2w80BtXFl74ic8XQ4%3D&reserved=0> and Section by Section<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fedlabor.house.gov%2Fdownload%2Ffy21-budget-reconciliation-section-by-section&data=04%7C01%7Cabernathy%40acg-consultants.com%7Cd8238948a6cc4393764608d8cc6f2ceb%7C614785f296d34d26804ed0aa5843d4d3%7C0%7C0%7C637484125162889791%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=kvPF5in%2BSP873pk9MftAwP3Mb3578qmWtlDa%2Br%2FnwD8%3D&reserved=0> summary. Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee: Last week, Senate Appropriations Committee leaders announced the chairs and ranking members of all 12 subcommittees<https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/leahy-shelby-announce-senate-appropriations-committee-subcommittee-rosters-and-leadership-for-the-117th-congress>. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) will continue to lead Democrats as chair of the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee. Pell grants: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is forecasting a large Pell grant surplus - The CBO released its budget and economic outlook for the next 10 years that includes updated estimates for the Pell Grant program<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.cbo.gov%2fsystem%2ffiles%2f2021-02%2f51304-2021-02-pellgrant.pdf&c=E,1,xgot5aBndS1-HkqEJDrkhcoZavsbmc4zz0SIvNDFQr-v3d7rYCt_hjTHfr5oiX9un2f-369-DZilXnqbq4KnehHMr3cvapA4dLBxdDraG6ybx-WjoomRut2v&typo=1>. CBO estimates that the Pell Grant program has $12 billion in reserve this year because Congress has provided the same amount of new funding each year but discretionary program costs have declined over the last decade. However, CBO expects program costs to increase by $2 billion in FY 2021 and to keep increasing for the next 10 years even without any increase in the maximum award. Pell grant funding can be used for two fiscal years, so any leftover money gets used the next year and does not expire. Congress has rescinded some of the Pell Grant "surplus" in four of the five last fiscal years and used it to pay for other programs in the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. Earmarks: Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are reportedly planning on returning earmarks<https://www.huffpost.com/entry/earmarks-democrats-ban-end_n_602ae55cc5b680717ee9dfe1> to spending bills. Democrats have not specified what restrictions there will be; however, the funding will likely be limited to nonprofits and localities. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chair of the Appropriations Committee, is expected to make an announcement in the coming weeks. Best, Michele MICHELE DIECUCH | Senior Director of Programs Pronouns: She, Her, Hers ________________________________ ProLiteracy<http://www.proliteracy.org/> | 101 Wyoming St. | Syracuse, NY 13204 p 315.214.2576 | f 315.422.6369 | mdiecuch@proliteracy.org<mailto:mdiecuch@proliteracy.org> Find us and follow us on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/pages/ProLiteracy/59618669707> and Twitter<http://twitter.com/#!/ProLitWorld>. Help ProLiteracy advance the cause of adult literacy.<http://www.proliteracy.org/give> [2021-01-PL-EmailSignatures-Q3-WHF-1110]<https://www.proliteracy.org/write-her-future>