Early Saturday morning, the House passed its $1.9T COVID-19 relief legislation. The bill was approved with only Democratic votes and now heads to the Senate where the majority can't afford a single defection. Changes will almost certainly be required for a final bill to be approved by the Senate. 

Provisions relevant to the higher education community were retained in the House-approved version, including:

• $39.6B for general higher education COVID-19 related costs;
• $350B in relief to state and local governments;
• $600M to NSF for new and existing research grants, fellowships, and scholarships;
• $200M to IMLS; 
• $150M to NIST for R&D through existing Manufacturing USA Institutes;
• $135M to the NEH and NEA for assistance to grantees; and
• $100M to the Institute of Education Sciences for research on education losses related to the COVID-19 crisis.

The higher education and research figures are well short of the need identified by the higher education advocacy community. However, the package continues to enjoy significant support among the national groups and individual institutions as a necessary next step in efforts by Congress to respond to the crisis. 

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, House Summary

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Full Text