Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack, a Democrat from Mt. Vernon, testified before the House Budget Committee as representatives work on budget in response to the president’s proposal for the next fiscal year budget. Loebsack says he’s concerned with increasing the president’s recommendations for education funding.
Loebsack says the president is proposing that Pell Grant awards are only $4,800, while Loebsack says the amount needs to be pushed to $5,100, with the final goal being $5,400. Loebsack says the president’s budget is 623-million dollars short in the Headstart pre-school program funding the House requested. Loebsack also spoke about the federal "Byrne JAG" grants to law enforcement agencies.
Loebsack says the president has requested only 200-million dollars for the grants, which he says is 460-million of where we should be this year, let alone next year. Loebsack, who represents the second district, says he has some 70 co-sponsors on a plan to up the funding for the law enforcement grants.