This publication is designed to meet the many thousands of requests that have come to the Committee on Education and Labor for information regarding Federal aid to education. It is the first comprehensive history of legislative proposals in this field which have received consideration by the Congress of the United States, beginning in 1789 until 1960. As the first publication of this kind that has ever been produced, it contains an interesting and dramatic story. It reveals a deep and continuing concern on the part of Congress in education throughout our Nation's history. The nature and variety of proposals beginning with the consideration of a bill to establish a national university in the Fourth Congress, and the many other bills considered through the years up until the present time, provides a background of information which should be valuable to legislators as well as educators, teachers, and students of our educational system. The Committee on Education and Labor was established on March 21, 1867, and was divided into separate committees, one on education and one on labor in December of 1883. On January 2, 1947, the committees were again combined when the Reorganization Act of 1946 went into effect. At that time the Nation's interest was focused on labor problems and for a number of years the Congress gave priority to legislation in the field of labor. Unfortunately this understandable and necessary attention that was given to labor problems resulted in a situation whereby education legislation received a far lesser degree of study and attention than it should have. This is to some extent tragic when considered in the light of the importance of education to the Nation's survival in these challenging sixties. As chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor it is my intention to restore education to the degree of importance that it should have always maintained. The staff of the committee has been recruited and organized in an attempt to obtain the best professional help in the field of education that is available. At the same time, the committee program for consideration of pending legislation has been developed in such a way as to give education bills priority. What the Congress does with respect to legislation in the field of education is probably of greater importance to the Nation's future than anything else it might do. The strengthening of our educational system through Federal financial assistance as well as the stimulation of interest at the local and State level is, in my opinion, the most important single thing that needs to be done in order to preserve our American way of life and maintain world leadership for peace and progress. Education is the foundation upon which the success of all the Nation's domestic and foreign policies and programs depend. It is my hope that this committee publication will assist in the understanding of educational problems; in determining the proper role of the Federal Government in this field; and in the development of Federal programs necessary to make our educational system modern and dynamic in all parts of the country. 68649-61 ADAM C. POWELL, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor. IX FEDERAL AID FOR EDUCATION PROPOSALS WHICH RECEIVED LEGISLATIVE ACTION, 1789-1960 1 NOTE: Report numbers are not included for the first 14 Congresses since a consecutive numbering system was not employed until the 15th Congress. Reports in the first 14 Congresses, therefore, are designated by date rather than by a report or document number. Bill numbers did not appear until the 22d Congress. (For early Congresses, unless otherwise indicated, page listings refer to either the Senate or House Journals for that session. Beginning with the 48th Congress page citations refer to the Congressional Record.) 4TH CONGRESS, 2D SESSION (DEC. 5, 1796–MAR. 3, 1797) NATIONAL UNIVERSITY To establish a National University (as recommended in President Washington's speech and also in a memorial from the Commissioners of the Federal City concerning the establishment of such a university within the limits of the city of Washington). Legislative action: Memorial of Commissioners referred to a Select Committee (p. 613). Committee of the Whole House discharged from consideration of a National University, as recommended in President's speech, and resolution referred to committee to whom was also referred the memorial of the Commissioners (p. 622). Resolution reported by the Select Committee (Dec. 21, 1796) and referred to Committee of the Whole House (p. 626). Debated (p. 628). Further debated and reported to the House unfavorably (p. 629-Dec. 27, 1796). Motion to postpone consideration of subject carried (p. 629). 11TH CONGRESS, 2D SESSION (NOV. 27, 1809-MAY 1, 1810) NATIONAL BANK PROFITS FOR EDUCATION Resolved, That provision be made by law for a general national establishment of banks throughout the United States, and that the profits arising from the same, together with such surpluses of revenue as may accrue, be appropriated for the "general welfare" in the construction cf public roads and canals, and the establishment of seminaries for education throughout the United States. Legislative action: Motion to refer to a Committee of the Whole defeated (Annals, v. 21, p. 1378). Motion to refer to a select committee the first clause in the resolution defeated (p. 220). 1 Bills or resolutions enacted, reported, or upon which hearings were held. 1 |