[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8411-H8412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SECOND HIGHER EDUCATION EXTENSION ACT of 2007
Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
Senate bill (S. 1868) to temporarily extend the programs under the
Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The text of the Senate bill is as follows:
S. 1868
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Second Higher Education
Extension Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PROGRAMS.
Section 2(a) of the Higher Education Extension Act of 2005
(Public Law 109-81; 20 U.S.C. 1001 note) is amended by
striking ``July 31, 2007'' and inserting ``October 31,
2007''.
SEC. 3. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act, or in the Higher Education Extension
Act of 2005 as amended by this Act, shall be construed to
limit or otherwise alter the authorizations of appropriations
for, or the durations of, programs contained in the
amendments made by the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of
2005 (Public Law 109-171) to the provisions of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 and the Taxpayer-Teacher Protection Act
of 2004.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capps). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) and the gentleman from New York
(Mr. Kuhl) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during
which Members may insert materials relevant to S. 1868 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. HINOJOSA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1868, a
bill to extend the Higher Education Act through October 31, 2007.
This bill is very straightforward. It simply extends the current
programs authorized under the Higher Education Act until October 31,
2007, giving us the time to fully consider and complete the
reauthorization before us in the 110th Congress.
We are making progress. We have passed a historic investment in
student financial aid in the College Cost Reduction Act. We have also
laid the groundwork to reauthorize the other core higher education
programs, including teacher preparation, developing and strengthening
institutions, college readiness and outreach programs, including
international education, graduate education and others. We put out a
call for recommendations and received over 85 responses from
individuals, organizations, and coalitions from across the Nation. We
hear them loud and clear.
I am looking forward to working with all of my colleagues in the
House to produce a strong reauthorization of the Higher Education Act
that will earn broad support.
[[Page H8412]]
I would like to thank Congressman McKeon, ranking member of the full
committee, and Congressman Ric Keller, ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and
Competitiveness, as well as our chairman, George Miller, for working
together with me to expedite this extension.
I respectfully urge all my colleagues to pass this legislation
overwhelmingly.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. KUHL of New York. Madam Speaker, for the last several years my
colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee have worked to renew,
and indeed improve, the Higher Education Act.
Last Congress, we passed H.R. 609, the College Access and Opportunity
Act, which made important reforms to the Pell Grant program, the
Perkins loan program, and provided more accountability in the area of
college costs. Unfortunately, the Senate was not able to act, and the
legislation died.
{time} 1130
This Congress, the House has passed the reforms to address some of
the problems that have arisen in the student loan industry and has
passed legislation that made changes to the mandatory spending programs
under the Higher Education Act through the reconciliation process. As
of yesterday, the Senate has passed both the reconciliation bill and
the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill.
The latest extension of the Higher Education Act expires on July 31,
2007. Today, we are passing another extension through October 31, 2007.
It is my hope that the House will soon renew the remaining Higher
Education Act, but in the meantime Congress must once again act to
extend this bill, which we have done so previously on several occasions
with bipartisan support. So today I rise in support of legislation to
do so once again.
S. 1868, the second Higher Education Act of 2007, will ensure that
vital Federal college access and student aid programs continue, I
repeat continue, to serve those students who depend upon them. This
legislation extends the Higher Education Act for a brief time, just 3
months. At the same time, S. 1868 also gives Congress additional time
to complete a review of the remaining higher education programs as
well.
Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill before
us today and work with us in the coming months to complete a
fundamental reform package so that we can better serve the American
students pursuing a college education.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Kuhl from
New York for his positive remarks on S. 1868, and together we are going
to ask that our colleagues join us and pass this legislation
overwhelmingly.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1868.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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