AAU joined a coalition of 21 higher education associations in a letter to U.S. House and Senate leaders, urging them to bring the Federal Perkins Loan Extension Act (H.R. 2482) to the floor for a vote. This legislation would provide a two-year extension of the program, which would give Congress time to implement an alternative for the nearly half a million students who rely on Perkins Loans. The program is set to expire September 30, 2017.