[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 30, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8983-H8985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AMENDING HIGHER EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 WITH RESPECT TO QUALIFICATIONS OF 
                            FOREIGN SCHOOLS

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 570) to amend the Higher

[[Page H8984]]

Education Act of 1965 with respect to the qualifications of foreign 
schools.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 570

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FOREIGN SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY.

       (a) In General.--Section 102(a)(2)(A) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(2)(A)) is amended to 
     read as follows:
       ``(A) In general.--For the purpose of qualifying as an 
     institution under paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall 
     establish criteria by regulation for the approval of 
     institutions outside the United States and for the 
     determination that such institutions are comparable to an 
     institution of higher education as defined in section 101 
     (except that a graduate medical school, or a veterinary 
     school, located outside the United States shall not be 
     required to meet the requirements of section 101(a)(4)). Such 
     criteria shall include a requirement that a student attending 
     such school outside the United States is ineligible for loans 
     made, insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV 
     unless--
       ``(i) in the case of a graduate medical school located 
     outside the United States--

       ``(I)(aa) at least 60 percent of those enrolled in, and at 
     least 60 percent of the graduates of, the graduate medical 
     school outside the United States were not persons described 
     in section 484(a)(5) in the year preceding the year for which 
     a student is seeking a loan under part B of title IV; and
       ``(bb) at least 60 percent of the individuals who were 
     students or graduates of the graduate medical school outside 
     the United States or Canada (both nationals of the United 
     States and others) taking the examinations administered by 
     the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates 
     received a passing score in the year preceding the year for 
     which a student is seeking a loan under part B of title IV; 
     or
       ``(II) the institution has a clinical training program that 
     was approved by a State as of January 1, 1992; or

       ``(ii) in the case of a veterinary school located outside 
     the United States that does not meet the requirements of 
     section 101(a)(4), the institution's students complete their 
     clinical training at an approved veterinary school located in 
     the United States.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--This Act and the amendments made by 
     this Act shall be effective as if enacted on October 1, 1998.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
on S. 570.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Today I rise in support of the bill, S. 570. The legislation is very 
simple in its purpose. It will correct a drafting error made years ago 
during the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
  When drafting the legislation in 1998, an amendment intended to 
extend eligibility to a for-profit veterinary school inadvertently 
removed the eligibility of not-for-profit and public foreign veterinary 
schools from participation in the Title IV Federal Family Education 
Loan Program. S. 570 corrects the problem by clarifying that the in-
State clinical training requirement, intended only for for-profit 
institutions, does not apply to not-for-profit or public foreign 
institutions. These institutions still must meet all other statutory 
and regulatory requirements to be eligible for participation. S. 570 
simply makes clear that not-for-profit and public foreign veterinary 
institutions need not have their approved clinical training take place 
in the United States.

                              {time}  1600

  The legislation is noncontroversial. It is bipartisan, and this error 
should be corrected immediately. Students are now feeling the effects 
of this glitch, and it is unfairly hindering students seeking to 
complete their education. As they return to school, they should not 
have studies thwarted by a legislative drafting error. The effects of 
this problem are being felt by several of my constituents, one 
specifically being Ms. Beverly Breeden, a resident of Celina, Ohio, and 
a veterinary student at the Royal Veterinary College in London. She is 
extremely concerned that she may not be able to complete her studies 
should this legislation not pass. She has worked hard, and I want to 
ensure that she is able to return to school in October and finish her 
studies.
  So I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' today on S. 570 and allow 
students to complete their education and training without unintended 
interruptions.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I thank the chairman of the committee for bringing this bipartisan 
legislation to the floor of the House, and I am pleased to support this 
amendment to the Higher Education Act which corrects the mistake that, 
as the chairman said, was made as part of the 1998 Higher Education Act 
reauthorization. We heard the story about the chairman's constituent. 
Many others studying abroad now find themselves in a similar 
predicament and unable to pay for college. Many more find themselves 
cut off after years of investment, both financial and personal, and 
face the prospect of having to abandon their dream of becoming a 
veterinarian.
  Currently, there are only 27 schools of veterinary medicine in the 
United States offering approximately 2,300 slots to first-year 
students. In the year 2000, more than 6,700 students applied for one of 
these limited slots. Many highly qualified applicants were denied 
admission to school in the United States and had to look elsewhere to 
complete their training. At the same time, the demand for veterinarians 
across our Nation is very high. In 2001, the typical recent graduate 
averaged almost three job offers upon graduation.
  Clearly, reputable foreign veterinarian medical colleges are key to 
supplying the growing demand for highly qualified veterinarians. S. 570 
would correct the error we made in 1998 and restore the ability of 
students studying at foreign veterinary medical colleges to apply for 
and, if eligible, receive Pell grants, student loans, and other Federal 
aid.
  Today, more than 150,000 U.S. citizens studying at foreign 
institutions of higher learning receive $250 million in Federal student 
aid. American students attending foreign veterinary schools should also 
have access to Federal grants and student loans.
  This legislation will correct the misstep we made in 1998 and allow 
hundreds of students to complete their degrees and realize their 
dreams. It has bipartisan support; and like the chairman of the 
committee, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and ensure 
the fair treatment of all students.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 570, 
an Act to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to 
qualifications of foreign schools. This amendment revises the 
requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow students 
studying in nonprofit public veterinary schools abroad to participate 
in the Family Education Loan Program.
  The higher education act of 1965 was signed into law on November 8, 
1965 ``to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and 
universities and to provide financial assistance for student in post 
secondary and higher education.'' We must maintain the integrity of 
this important program. This amendment ensures that those students who 
choose to attend veterinary schools located outside the United States 
can still benefit from the all-important financial assistance provided 
by the Higher Education Act.
  A substantial number of students studying abroad have been medical, 
dental, or veterinary students. These students are able to broaden 
their understanding of the medical practice and return home with an 
enlightened perspective that benefits those of us who will be treated 
here in the United States by these practitioners.
  Traditionally, many medical students have hesitated to study abroad 
fearing that they would endanger their professional prospects. We now 
know that the experience gained by medical students who successfully 
study abroad considerably enhances their ability to move into their 
professional careers.
  The Higher Education Act was and still is a response to the concern 
President Johnson expressed in 1965 about the need for more higher 
education opportunities for lower and middle-income families, program 
assistance for small and less developed colleges, additional improved 
library resources at higher education institution, and utilization of 
college

[[Page H8985]]

and university resources to help deal with national problems like 
poverty and community development.
  S. 570 allows veterinary students studying abroad in nonprofit public 
veterinary schools to participate in the Higher Education Act's Federal 
Family Education Loan Program. We must maintain the purpose of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 and provide financial resources to those 
students who qualify whether they are at home or abroad.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back balance of my time.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Schrock). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 570.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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