[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2000

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, today, my colleague, Mr. Goodling, and I are 
introducing the Higher Education Technical Amendments of 2000. Many of 
my colleagues will remember that in the last Congress we enacted the 
Higher Education Amendments of 1998 on a bipartisan basis. The passage 
of that Act was one of the most important pieces of legislation we 
enacted for students and their parents. I want to again thank Chairman 
Goodling for his leadership on that bill. Throughout that process he 
kept members focused on our goal of improving our student financial aid 
system. Additionally, I want to acknowledge his leadership in crafting 
this technical package, which will improve the implementation of the 
1998 Amendments. I also want to thank the Committee Ranking Member, Mr. 
Clay, the former Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Kildee, and 
the current Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Mr. Martinez. The 1998 
amendments, which we crafted together, have been a great success, and 
our continued efforts on this legislation will only improve on those 
results.
  As Chairman Goodling noted in his statement, the legislation 
introduced today is technical in nature, but also makes policy 
adjustments that we believe are necessary to ensure that the Act is 
implemented in the way Congress intended. We worked with many 
organizations and individuals who put forth proposals for our 
consideration. We included those which are bipartisan in nature, 
benefit students and their parents, and are paid for. Our goal is to 
pass a bill that can be acted upon by the other body and enacted into 
law in the near future.
  The legislation we are introducing today will improve our national 
early outreach efforts by making modifications to the TRIO and GEAR UP 
programs. The bill allows participating organizations to provide grant 
aid to students and, in the case of GEAR UP, to serve students from 
seventh grade through high school graduation.
  It will improve the operation of our student loan programs by making 
minor adjustments to streamline some loan forbearances and to conform 
the law to reflect current practices for perfecting security interests. 
This bill will also improve the Perkins Loan program by allowing 
borrowers to rehabilitate loans by making a single lump sum payment and 
by clarifying that loans in deferment for a student that performs 
service resulting in their cancellation are reimbursed for interest as 
well.
  Additionally, this legislation will improve the regulatory process 
for schools and other program participants. This is important, because 
we continue to hear reports that the Department does not give the 
public enough time to comment on or to implement complex student aid 
regulations. First, the bill will require the Department of Education 
to allow a minimum of 45 days for comment after the publication of a 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM). Second, it prevents disclosure 
or reporting requirements from becoming effective for at least 180 days 
after the publication of final regulations.
  Finally, the bill we are introducing will clarify and strengthen 
provisions in the Higher Education Act regarding the return of federal 
funds when students withdraw from school. Specifically, it will correct 
a Department interpretation so that students will never be required to 
return more than 50 percent of the grant funds they received. In 
addition, the bill will provide students with a limited grace period 
for repayment to help students who are unable to repay immediately upon 
their withdrawal, and it will set a minimum threshold for grant 
repayment of $50. All of these steps will aid students who postpone or 
withdraw for emergency or financial reasons.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation we are introducing is bipartisan. It has 
no cost, and it will improve the implementation of the Higher Education 
Amendments of 1998 which we worked so hard to enact in the last 
Congress. I urge every member of this body to support its passage.

                          ____________________