By Lauren Camera
Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee were unsuccessful in several attempts to restore funding for federal education programs during Wednesdays markup of a fiscal 2016 spending plan that would slash the current funding level for the U.S. Department of Education by $2.8 billion.
The committee cleared the measure, which funds the department and federal education programs to the tune of $64.4 billion, on party-line vote of 30-21. You can read more about how education programs would be funded here.
Democrats tried to increase funding for several programs, as well as restore funding for some 20 education programs that would be eliminated under the GOP appropriations bill, which also funds the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor.