March 2008

Dear Seniors:

As Americans live longer and healthier lives, many are rethinking retirement, and in an effort to expand their horizons more and more seniors are turning to continuing education programs. Some of us do this to enhance our cultural and social experiences, while others of us use continuing education as an opportunity for job re-training as we look to explore new fields.

In the late 1990’s a National Household Education Survey (NHES) declared the percentage of Americans ages 66-74 who participated in one adult education class in a year doubled from 8.4 percent in 1991 to 19.9 percent in 1999. The numbers are only rising now, and the New England Board of Higher Education reminds us that, “…our region’s adult learners are an increasingly important demographic, not only to our higher education institutions but to our workforce and our communities. [And] if we are to be more diligent in educating adults one thing we must address is the prohibitive barrier of higher education costs.”

As a senior member of the Education and Labor committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, I was particularly proud of the House passage of the “The College Opportunity and Affordability Act” (H.R.4137). The College Opportunity and Affordability Act renews the Higher Education Act, which authorizes the federal government's involvement in postsecondary education and includes key student financial aid programs.

If your goal is to pursue continuing education programs, this bill will help ensure there are cost containment initiatives on your side. For more information on how this bill helps contain the costs of higher education please feel free to contact my office at (978) 531-1669 and ask for one of my Constituent Service Representatives, or visit my website at http://Tierney.house.gov, and type “Education” into the search field.

Finally, I encourage you to explore continuing education options at institutions of public higher education near you. Consider online courses (e-learning) for a travel-friendly option, and/or some of the non-credit programs offered at schools such as Salem State University and the North Shore Community College. These programs help you to explore a new career, start a hobby, or improve your job skills. Both schools offer a wide variety of traditional and online classes designed for adults.

Also, as always, please feel free to call Cheryl Gresek in my Peabody office at (978) 531-1669 if you have any further questions.

Sincerely,



John F. Tierney
Member of Congress