Bills that would increase loan forgiveness for some schoolteachers and make teacher-certification programs comply with stricter accountability provisions won approval from a key House of Representatives committee on Tuesday, after Republican members voted down a series of amendments proposed by Democrats.

One bill, HR 2211, seeks to close loopholes in the way states report on the quality of teacher-education programs. The other bill, HR 438, would forgive up to $17,500 of student-loan debt for some mathematics, science, and special-education teachers. Under current law, only $5,000 can be forgiven.

Amendments proposed by Democrats to the loan-forgiveness bill led to some heated debates in the Committee on Education and the Workforce, split along party lines.

Rep. Donald M. Payne, a New Jersey Democrat, proposed increasing loan-forgiveness limits for those who teach in "high-poverty schools," regardless of the subject they teach. He said these schools employ disproportionately more young and unqualified teachers, and have the highest teacher turnover rates.

Republicans countered that the only "critical shortage" of qualified teachers is in mathematics and science, and that other nations provide better education in these subjects than the United States does. Some representatives said that improving education in mathematics and science was "an issue critical to our national security."

Rep. John F. Tierney, a Massachusetts Democrat, proposed increasing the loan-forgiveness limits for teachers who work with students in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

The proposals are "well-intentioned" but not financially feasible, said John A. Boehner, an Ohio Republican and chairman of the committee. "We were not elected to play Santa Claus, and this is not Christmas," he said.

Rep. Ron Kind, a Wisconsin Democrat, interrupted Mr. Boehner and said that the administration's proposed tax cut, which Democrats say will most benefit the wealthy, "sure looks like Christmas to me."

The bills will now be considered by the entire House.