The U.S. House of Representatives approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill on Jan. 28 that includes some $142 billion for education as part of the Obama administration's plan to revive a badly ailing economy. The vote was 244-188, with Republicans unanimous in opposition despite the president's frequent pleas for bipartisan support.

Some $20 billion for school modernization and $1 billion for educational technology are included in the bill, which also sets aside money for schools and colleges to shield them from the effects of state cutbacks in services, as well as tax credits designed to make college more affordable.

"This recovery plan will save or create more than three million new jobs over the next few years," President Obama said in a written statement released moments after the House voted. Still later, he welcomed congressional leaders of both parties to the White House for drinks as he continued to lobby for the legislation.

The vote sent the bill to the Senate, where debate could begin as early as Feb. 2 on a more bipartisan, and costlier, companion measure already taking shape. Democratic leaders have pledged to have legislation ready for Obama's signature by mid-February.

That could prove difficult, however, because there are differences between the House and Senate versions that must be ironed out.

The day before the House vote, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Senate version of the bill over Republican protests that it contained too much spending. Siding with Democrats on the committee in approving the measure were Republican Sens. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Christopher Bond of Missouri, and Susan Collins of Maine.

Despite Republican protests, the Senate version includes a higher percentage of tax cuts than the House bill. It calls for $366 billion in stimulus spending within a total package that could approach or exceed $900 billion.

The House bill includes an estimated $544 billion in federal spending and $275 billion in tax cuts for individuals and businesses. These totals remained in flux nearly until the final vote, owing to official re-estimates and a last-minute addition of $3 billion for mass transit.

Both the Senate and House versions of the stimulus package would supply about $20 billion for school infrastructure improvements, though the funding would be apportioned differently: K-12 schools would get $14 billion and colleges $6 billion in the House version, while the Senate version allocates $16 billion for K-12 schools and $3.5 billion for colleges. The House version also sets aside another $1 billion for educational technology, while the Senate version includes ed-tech funding as part of the infrastructure line item.

There are also differences in Pell Grant funding ($15.6 billion in the House version, $13.9 billion in the Senate version) and support for broadband deployment ($6 billion in the House bill, $9 billion in the Senate bill) to be worked out, among other discrepancies.