[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2325-E2326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           STUDENT AID AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration of the bill (H.R. 3221) to 
     amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. POMEROY. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3221, 
important legislation that will provide critical resources for 
community colleges and expand access to higher education for our 
nation's students. While I have some remaining concerns with this bill 
that need to be addressed before enactment, I am voting to move this 
measure forward in the process because it strengthens our student aid 
programs while decreasing our federal deficit by $10 billion.
  H.R. 3221 provides an historic investment in Pell Grants and ensures 
that interest rates remain low on need-based federal student

[[Page E2326]]

loans. I am a strong supporter of making college more accessible for 
everyone, and am pleased that the bill invests $90 million in North 
Dakota for the Pell Grant program. This increased level of funding 
means that 17,143 student will be eligible for a Pell Grant award in 
the 2010-2011 academic year, an increase of 37 percent over the 12,467 
North Dakota students eligible in the 2007-2008 school year. And by 
2019, the number of students receiving Pell Grants will nearly double 
from 2007-2008 levels to 21,410. Under this legislation, the maximum 
Pell Grant scholarship will ultimately reach $6,900 by 2019, 
representing over a 45 percent increase in the maximum Pell Grant Award 
over the next 10 years from today's maximum Pell Grant level of $4,731. 
This is good news for students.
  However, there are a few issues of remaining concern with H.R. 3221. 
First, I strongly believe that student loans should be affordable. I 
have heard concerns from several North Dakota institutions that under 
the new Direct Perkins loans program, students are required to pay 
interest accrued on Direct Perkins loans while they are in school. The 
final proposal of this bill must weigh these concerns with the number 
of new students who will enter the Perkins loan program as a result of 
increasing the loan authority of this program.
  Second, it is important to ensure that rural and rural-serving 
community colleges receive their fair share of funding from the new 
Higher Education Federal Assistance for Community College Modernization 
and Construction program. Rural and rural-serving colleges face unique 
challenges in providing critical educational opportunities for our 
nation's rural students, and should receive an appropriate portion of 
the funding provided under this program. I also believe that the 
Veterans Resource Officer Grant program should be modified to better 
ensure that rural and small schools have access to this program.
  Third, as the only state-owned bank in the country, the Bank of North 
Dakota should continue to be allowed to provide student loans. The Bank 
of North Dakota currently serves about 75 percent of North Dakota 
students and has been a wonderful partner for students and their 
families. The Bank of North Dakota's service should not be disrupted. 
This is why I led an amendment that was made in order that ensures that 
non-profit entities like the Bank of North Dakota can continue to 
provide valuable student borrower services, including delinquency 
prevention, default aversion, and loan counseling. In addition, I 
appreciate Chairman Miller's commitment on the floor to work with me in 
conference to ensure that this important institution will continue to 
have a role in federal student lending programs.
  Having received the Chairman's assurances to work together on these 
issues in conference, I am going to vote to move this bill forward. I 
hope by furthering this bill, we can build on its historic investments 
in the Pell Grant program and strengthen its provisions for North 
Dakota schools and students.

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