[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1498-H1499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HIGHER EDUCATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2008

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2733) to temporarily extend the 
programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The text of the Senate bill is as follows:

                                S. 2733

       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 ``Higher Education Extension 
     Act of 2008''.

     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 ``March 31, 2008'' and inserting ``April 30, 2008''.

     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) or by the College Cost Reduction 
     and Access Act (Public Law 110-84) to the provisions of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Taxpayer-Teacher 
     Protection Act of 2004.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. George Miller) and

[[Page H1499]]

the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) each will control 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2733, a bill to temporarily 
extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965.
  Last month, we took the next step toward reauthorizing the Higher 
Education Act by passing H.R. 4137, the College Opportunity and 
Affordability Act, in the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. 
That bill builds on the law Congress enacted last year that put $20 
billion in Federal student aid in the hands of those in most need, low- 
and middle-income students and families working hard to pay for the 
cost of college.
  Now, as we work with the Senate towards the conference report to 
reauthorize the Higher Education Act, we are close to providing 
students and families with additional reforms needed to truly ensure 
that the doors of college remain open to all qualified students.
  It is our goal to ensure that the final bill include vital provisions 
of H.R. 4137 that address the major obstacle families face in the path 
to college, from skyrocketing college tuition prices, to the needlessly 
complicated student aid application process, to predatory tactics by 
student lenders.
  It has been nearly 10 years since the Higher Education Act last 
reauthorized, and I believe that Members on both sides of the aisle and 
in both Chambers are eager to complete the work on a compromise bill 
this Congress.
  This bipartisan reauthorization presents the best opportunity that we 
had to bring our higher education system into the 21st century.
  The bill under consideration today, S. 2733, will extend the programs 
under the current Higher Education Act until April 30, 2008, to allow 
sufficient time for further deliberations to continue on the two bills 
passed in the House and Senate. And while that process of reauthorizing 
the Higher Education Act may be coming to a close, I would like to 
underscore that it does not mean that we will complete work on higher 
education altogether. The Education and Labor Committee will continue 
our efforts to ensure our higher education programs operate in the best 
interests of students and families, which include overseeing the proper 
implementation of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and other 
provisions of the Higher Education Act. We will also examine how we can 
best ensure the availability of Federal student loans in the midst of 
volatility in our Nation's credit markets.
  I look forward to completing this work with the respective Members so 
that we can continue to make college more affordable and accessible for 
our Nation's students and families.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2733, the Higher Education 
Extension Act of 2008.
  While this is the first extension of the Higher Education Act for 
this year, we have passed over a dozen extensions of this law since it 
first expired.
  S. 2733 will ensure that vital Federal college access and student aid 
programs continue to serve those students who depend upon them for an 
additional month. Earlier this year, the House passed H.R. 4137, the 
College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008, by a vote of 354-58. 
Unlike last year when the Senate failed to act when the House passed 
its bill, the Senate passed their Higher Education Act reauthorization 
bill as well. We are now the closest we have been in recent years to 
passing a reauthorization bill.
  I stand in support of this extension of the Higher Education Act 
through April 30 of this year because I hope that we can move forward 
in developing a conference agreement in a bipartisan and thoughtful 
manner. If it takes 1 more month or 2 more months, I think others would 
agree that we would rather see a thoughtful product rather than 
something that was rushed through the process to meet an artificial 
deadline.
  I join with my colleagues in fully supporting efforts to extend the 
Higher Education Act today and hope that we can work together to 
develop a conference agreement that will fundamentally reform the 
programs included in the Higher Education Act.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' in support of this extension.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I join Mr. Platts in urging a 
``yes'' vote.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2733.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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