Summary of March 17-18, 1998 House Education and Workforce Committee markup of House Higher Education Act Reauthorization (H.R. 6) (Summary prepared by Diana Gourlay, University of California) The Committee's debate focused on teacher training, outreach programs, and student financial aid. There were no amendments or discussion concerning graduate or international education, with the exception of remarks by Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), who expressed support for the Javits program and urged its continuation in Title VI. Of the 34 amendments discussed, 13 passed. Several were withdrawn and may come up again during floor consideration. Below is a listing of all amendments in order of approval, defeat, or withdrawal (by topic). In some cases, amendments were not discussed in detail or available. The Committee APPROVED the following amendments (listed by topic): IN GENERAL: Chairman William Goodling (R-PA) in the nature of a substitute, including the amendments adopted at the Subcommittee markup and technical amendments. Postsecondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) amendment to the substitute amendment, making technical corrections to the bill (Titles IV, II, and III). Goodling amendment in the nature of a substitute incorporating the amendments from Full Committee markup. COLLEGE COSTS: McKeon and Michael Castle (R-DE) amendment on collection of college costs and regulatory reform. This amendment incorporates some of the recommendations of the College Costs Commission. The amendment: (1) authorizes the Secretary of Education to review regulations and repeal, simplify, consolidate, or modify any regulation no longer necessary; (2) authorizes the Secretary of Education to collect information about college undergraduate and graduate costs and (3) requires an annual GAO report. It appears that the intent of the amendment is for the Secretary to collect existing information and that colleges would not be required to produce new information. Rep. John Tierney (D-MA) agreed with the concept of the amendment, but expressed the view that colleges should provide this information with the least burden possible. Reps. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) also expressed support for the amendment. HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS: Bill Clay (D-MO) amendment establishing a new part for Hispanic-Serving Institutions and moving it from Title III to Title VIII. TITLE IV: Fattah amendment on High Hopes, providing a $140 million authorization of appropriations for a college-school partnership to prepare students in the sixth and seventh grade level in low- income communities for college. The amendment would eliminate two unfunded programs: School-College-University Partnerships and Model Program Community Partnership Counseling Grants program. Goodling spoke against the amendment, stating that current TRIO programs achieve the same purpose. Reps. Mark Souder (R-IN), Woolsey, Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Harold Ford (D-TN), George Miller (D-CA), and Tim Roemer (D-IN) spoke in favor of the amendment. The amendment was agreed to by a roll call vote of 24 yeas, 18 nays, and 1 voting present. The following Republicans joined the Democrats to pass the amendment: Souder, Fred Upton (R-MI), David McIntosh (R-IN), Colin Peterson (D-MN), and Joe Scarborough (R-FL). Castle voted present. Souder amendment authorizing the loss of eligibility of student assistance for students convicted of drug offenses. Several Democrats spoke in opposition to or voiced concerns about the amendment, but it was agreed to by voice vote. Carlos Romero-Barcelo (D-Puerto Rico) amendment would authorize the Tejeda Scholarship Program (after now deceased Rep. Frank Tejeda, D-TX) for low-income students proficient in English and Spanish to become teachers. Agreed to by a roll call vote of 19-14. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) amendment on loan forgiveness, providing incentives for prospective teachers in Title I schools. Offset would come from Perkins loans. CBO has not scored this proposal and the cost is estimated at $230 million. Kildee, Goodling, and Clay expressed support for the amendment. Passed unanimously by voice vote. McKeon/Kildee amendment to provide consolidation loans with a more favorable interest rate. This is a short-term solution to a problem the committee was recently alerted about, while the committee seeks a preferable solution. Passed unanimously by voice vote. Clay amendment regarding favorable interest rates for Direct Loan repayment options. The amendment would allow the Secretary of Education to offer reduced interest rates for individuals who pay by "alternative methods" developed by the Department, such as automatic bank account withdrawals. Approved unanimously by voice vote. Ford amendment to raise the authorization for TRIO programs from $650 million to $800 million. Marge Roukema (R-NJ) amendment authorizing $30 million for campuses to establish child care centers. The Committee DEFEATED the following amendments (listed by topic): PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS: George Miller (D-CA) amendment that relaxes the 85-15 rule, with the intention that schools that only survive on federal dollars would be eliminated. Roukema spoke in favor of the amendment, but Goodling, Kildee, Patsy Mink (D-HI), Robert Andrews (D-NJ) , and Roemer spoke in opposition to it. TEACHER TRAINING: Kildee amendment in the nature of a substitute including the Administration's teacher training proposals, state and local partnerships, guidance counseling (Aim High), and alternate routes for certification. Would be offset by the elimination of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Defeated on a roll call, party-line vote, 19-18. Bill Barrett (R-NE) amendment that would eliminate teacher training. Barrett does not believe that there should be a federal role in teacher training. TITLE II: Owens amendment would authorize a new competitive grant program for colleges and universities to establish and oversee Information Technology Education and Employment projects. Addresses the shortage of technical, skilled workers. This amendment was defeated by a roll call, party-line vote of 20-19. TITLE III: Owens amendment to increase authorization for funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from $35 million to $37 million. This amendment was defeated by a roll call, party-line vote of 23-20. TITLE IV: Hinojosa amendment to expand TRIO programs to geographic areas that have been underserved by TRIO. Andrews amendment on efficiency in guaranteed student loans. The amendment would reduce the subsidy to guaranty agencies in order to provide it to students. Origination fees would be cut by 1 percent. The following amendments were WITHDRAWN (listed by topic): TITLE IV: Tierney amendment allowing the top 10% of a graduating class to be eligible for Pell Grants. Supported by ACE. This amendment may be offered on the House Floor. Roemer amendment providing borrower's choice and loan flexibility. Goodling and McKeon indicated their willingness to work with Roemer between now and Floor consideration. Kildee supports the amendment. Andrews amendment on income contingent repayment of loans. Students with a taxable income of $20,000 or less would pay 3 percent or less, $20,000-$40,000 would pay 5 percent, and $40,000 or more would pay 7 percent. The loan term maximum would be 25 years. Would put FFEL on a level playing field with Direct Loans. Rep. Thomas Petri (R-WI) expressed support and desire to work with Andrews on technical issues before Floor action. Miller amendment on teacher quality. Graduates of Schools of Education must pass requirements or tests at an 85 percent rate (Chairman's mark has a level of 70 percent). Chairman's mark applies only to teacher training. Miller's amendment would apply also to all of Title IV. McKeon will work with Miller before Floor action. Hinojosa amendment to increase authorization of appropriations for HEP/CAMP from $10 to $30 million for HEP and from $5 million to $15 million for CAMP. Fattah amendment (for Rep. Carrie Meek of the Appropriations Committee) to create demonstration projects for opportunities for the learning disabled. Castle amendment on college costs, would go much farther than the agreed-to amendment passed earlier by McKeon and Castle. In an effort to allow the costs spent at colleges to be more transparent, the amendment would require schools receiving Title IV funding to disclose amounts spent on tuition, fees, room and board (for the last 5 years), teaching and instruction, buildings and facilities, grants, tuition remission, research, general administrative costs, etc. Woolsey amendment providing grants to colleges and universities to combat violent crimes on campuses, particularly against women. The amendment would provide $10 million per year to promote cooperation among campus officers and law enforcement officials, to train campus officials, to provide services to injured parties, to prevent crime. Goodling stated initial opposition to the amendment because it could be seen as rewarding institutions that have not "stepped up to the plate" on this issue. Fattah offered a suggestion to narrow Woolsey's amendment to make eligible those institutions that have stepped up to the plate. Goodling indicated that he would work with Woolsey between now and the Floor and also expressed concern about an offset. McKeon expressed a desire to work with Woolsey. Sanchez and McCarthy spoke in support of the amendment. Ford amendment providing for disclosure of costs by lenders participating in the FFEL program. Andrews amendment on compensation of guaranty agencies. The amendment would: (1) change the per dollar recovered rate by guaranty agencies from 24 cents on the dollar to 18 1/2 cents on the dollar (Chairman's mark has 22 cents on the dollar); (2) put services on a fee-for- service system; (3) recall reserves of guaranty agencies ($2 billion), which could be returned to the Treasury. Dan Schaffer (R-CO) amendment on the cohort default rate. The amendment would change the definition of when a loan is in default, to protect institutions' default rates from banks that make no effort to collect from students. CBO has yet to score this amendment. Roemer amendment (remarks and amendment entered directly into the record, not spoken, but mentioned a Notre Dame letter). Bobby Scott (D-VA) amendment on loan rehabilitation and parity between FFEL and Perkins. Goodling asked Scott to work with Schaffer between now and the Floor. Andrews amendment on guaranty agencies as the lender of last resort. The amendment deals with the definition of guaranty agencies being "transitional" backstops. TITLE X: Kildee amendment to strike all of Title X (includes VERIP - Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Programs). Andrews expressed his support for Title X and Payne expressed his support for Kildee's amendment.