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Higher Education Community Letter on Conference Agreement on H.R. 6, the Higher Education Act Reauthorization September 29, 1998
Statement in Support of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (H.R. 6) We commend Congress on the passage of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 (H.R. 6). This important legislation enjoys bipartisan, bicameral support and we urge the President to sign the bill promptly. Most of the changes that we sought when Congress began the reauthorization process are included in this bill. The interest rate on new student loans has been lowered substantially. All six federal student aid programs have been preserved with important changes to enhance flexibility. A Performance Based Organization -- which should improve the processing of federal student aid -- will be established at the Department of Education. Forgiveness of student loans has been approved for borrowers who become teachers. A significant new initiative will expand early intervention and college awareness activities. A meaningful federal role in graduate education has been preserved. Thanks to another change, colleges will be able to offer voluntary early retirement incentives to tenured faculty members. The legislation also takes real steps to reduce administrative and regulatory burdens. State Postsecondary Review Entities (SPREs) have been terminated. Other statutory changes should significantly improve the regulatory relationship between the Department of Education and institutions of higher education. These, and many other provisions of H.R. 6, are important and substantial changes that will help students and colleges alike. For these reasons, we support the bill. As is always the case with any far-reaching legislation, several areas remain that need continuing attention. Specifically, we will work with Congress to achieve a longer "window" to enable students to consolidate their loans at the low rate approved in the bill. In addition, we hope to revisit the punitive bankruptcy provisions included in this bill. We will work with the Department of Education to ensure that the loosening of current law relating to program integrity does not lead to a repeat of the serious problems experienced earlier this decade when fraud and abuse threatened the viability of federal student loans. Finally, despite the reduction of many regulatory provisions, H.R. 6 imposes new reporting requirements and we will work with the Department to ensure that the cost and burden imposed by these provisions are minimized. We extend our thanks to the members of both houses of Congress and their staffs who worked so diligently to produce this comprehensive legislation. We will work with the members of Congress and the Department of Education to ensure that the benefits H.R. 6 anticipates are realized. On behalf of:
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
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