November 10, 2005

Congressional Developments

Higher Education Act Reauthorization Update

The House Education and the Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee have marked up legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act of 1965. Although the law expired September 30, the end of the fiscal year, both chambers have enacted legislation to extend the law until December 31, 2005. A comparison of the House version, H.R. 609, and the Senate bill, S. 1614, can be found on the Federal Update page of this website.

Currently, neither bills have been brought to the respective chamber floors for debate and consideration. The Senate committee included its version of the legislation in the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill, thereby putting it on the “fast track”. The House committee has not followed the Senate’s plan. The current congressional schedule has Congress adjourning around November 18 and there is little chance the legislation will receive floor time before then. Thus, an extension of the law beyond December 31st will have to be enacted.

The legislation addresses a myriad of issues important to Indiana University faculty and students. The federal student loan programs, Department of Education initiatives such as TRIO and GEARUP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), and international education programs would all be reformed in the legislation. As these bills move through the legislative process, the IU Office of Government Relations will continue to work through the Indiana Congressional delegation toward the best outcome for the IU family.

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This report has been brought to you by the Indiana University Office of Government Relations with help, and editiorial and technical assistance from IU University Relations and Corporate Partnerships. Staff members from the Office of the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and the Office of the Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer are frequent contributors to this report.

Please contact IU Government Relations via e-mail at gov@indiana.edu or by phone at 812.855.1970 if you have comments, questions or suggestions for improvement.

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Related Information:

Contact Information
•	Doug Wasitis Director of Federal Relations dwasitis@indiana.edu

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http://www.gov.indiana.edu/federal/update/11-10-05.shtml

http://www.gov.indiana.edu/federal/newsletter.shtml