Home >> U.S. House Education Subcommittee eliminates PEP Funding for FY2012

U.S. House Education Subcommittee eliminates PEP Funding for FY2012

Senate not on-board with House plan

The House Education & Labor Committee approved legislation to eliminate 41 Education programs from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in FY2012. The list of programs to be eliminated includes the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). The final vote was along party lines with 23 Republican supporting and 16 Democrats opposing. The legislation is expected to pass in the House of Representatives but the Democratic-controlled Senate does not support the House bill and will consider an alternative version of ESEA. The Senate has not begun to develop its ESEA bill and has not set any timetable for action. 

The proposed eliminations will have no bearing on the $78 million in FY2011 PEP funding the Department of Education recently announced. The Education Department is currently processing approximately 450 PEP grant applications and plans to award roughly 70 new multi-year PEP grants later this summer. Despite the setback in the House, SGMA will continue to work with PEP supporters in Congress and our PE partners to preserve future funding of PEP.

Mark your calendars to join industry colleageues, PE advocates, and celebrity athletes on March 6 & 7, 2012 for SGMA's National Health Through Fitness Day to help save PEP. To learn more about this event visit www.getinvolved.sgma.com.