Robbing Peter to pay Paul - reauthorizing the higher education act

Black Issues in Higher Education, Oct 2, 1997 by Charles Dervarics

Even despite budget and fiscal pressures, "We need a balanced approach of student aid and tax policies to meet this challenge," he said.

RELATED ARTICLE: HEA: Issues and Answers

What is the Higher Education Act?

First enacted in 1965, HEA is a major federal law that authorizes core higher education programs such as Pell Grants, college work/study, loan programs, aid to HBCUs, TRIO programs, and dozens of other activities from graduate education to regulations for campus security. Financial aid programs under HEA alone provide about $47 billion in aid and serve 8 million students.

What is reauthorization?

Under federal law, Congress must reauthorize - or review - federal programs regularly and make policy changes as needed. Lawmakers expect this process to take two years.

When does it expire?

HEA officially expired September 30, but Congress will continue to fund programs - including Title III aid to Black colleges - until a new bill takes effect. Lawmakers will hold hearings this year and submit a bill for approval in 1998.

What is the Education Department's (ED) role?

ED will submit its own plan to reauthorize higher education programs, probably this fall. ED held public hearings in 1996 and 1997 to collect input. Some details of this plan already have emerged, such as a possible time limit on financial aid and a new Title III program for tribal colleges.

Who are the key players?

In the House, Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, a three-term California Republican, chairs the post-secondary education subcommittee that holds most of the hearings in that chamber. McKeon's panel is part of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, chaired by Rep. William Goodling (R-Pa.). Rep. William Clay (D-Mo.), a Congressional Black Caucus member, is senior Democrat on the full committee.

There is no Senate education subcommittee, so the issue is handled by the Labor and Human Resources Committee, chaired by moderate Sen. James Jeffords (R-Vt.). Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is the senior Democrat.

Where can I provide input?

The American Council on Education, The College Fund/UNCF, and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education are just a few of the organizations monitoring HEA reauthorization. Submit comments to member organizations or write to: House Education and the Workforce Committee, 2181 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515; (202) 225-4527; or Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, 428 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; (202) 224-6770.

RELATED ARTICLE: CBC Commemorates Tenth Anniversary Of Title IIIB

by Ronald Roach

WASHINGTON - Enactment of Title IIIB in the Higher Education Assistance Act came "at a very critical time," according to William Gray, president of The College Fund/UNCF, at a commemoration of the tenth anniversary of Title IIIB here.

"You would have had a number of HBCUs go under had Title IIIB not come into existence," Gray told nearly fifty people who were attending the commemoration that was organized by U.S. Representative Major Owens (D-N.Y.) during the Congressional Black Caucus's Annual Legislative Weekend last month. (See Last Word, pg. 80.)