Sen. Jeffords to Remain On Education Panel - James Jeffords - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, August 2, 2001

A month after sending shock waves through the U.S. Senate, Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., has emerged with his membership on the Senate's education panel intact.

Democrats carved out a seat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for Jeffords, who had served as chairman of the panel before he switched from a Republican to an independent. Democrats had to find a slot for him since Republicans added Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, as Jeffords' replacement.

DeWine joins nine other Republicans on the committee.

Democrats in mid-July also named Jeffords as a Senate representative to the conference committee that will negotiate a final education reform bill with the House of Representatives. Democrats say they want the White House to commit to specific education funding increases as part of the negotiation over details of the education bill.