Senate approves $26 billion in aid to states and schools

By CARL HULSE
New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday approved $26 billion in aid to states and school districts to prevent the layoffs of tens of thousands of teachers and government workers while allocating $600 million to strengthen border security as senators headed toward an August recess, the New York Times reported.

Both measures require approval by the House, which is being rushed back into session next Tuesday from its own extended August break to consider the state and local aid that had been caught up in a partisan impasse.

Democrats hailed the passage of the $26 billion package, which was approved by a vote of 61 to 39, saying it could prevent disruptions in the start of the school year. Two Republicans, Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, joined 57 Democrats and 2 independents in backing the measure; 39 Republicans opposed it.

“As our children prepare to go back to school, I am thankful that we were able to keep teachers in the classroom, school bus drivers on their routes and school nurses and counselors in place to ensure our children’s safety,” said Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, Democrat of Maryland.

The legislation provides $10 billion to retain teachers who might otherwise lose jobs to cutbacks, and an additional $16 billion to help states struggling to close budget deficits because of rising health care costs. Backers of the measure said the state aid would prevent the loss of emergency and law enforcement workers who could be let go.

The bill does not add to the deficit since the money is generated by closing a business tax loophole and making spending cuts.

In a rare agreement, Senate Democrats and Republicans also cut a deal on the immigration money, providing a 10 percent increase in current year spending that would be generated by increasing visa application fees on a handful of companies that import foreign workers. Among other things, the money would pay for 1,000 new border patrol agents for a strike force to be deployed in vulnerable areas. The legislation would also provide money for the Department of Justice to handle the increased caseload.

“This bipartisan effort shows we are serious about making the border more secure than ever,” said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York and one of the authors of the plan. “Now our attention must turn to comprehensive reform, which is the only way to fully address the problem of illegal immigration.”