Education and Labor Committee Helps many go to College by Passing the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007. 

It is a pleasure to announce that the House Education and Labor Committee passed the new College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 (H.R. 4137) last Wednesday.  I fought hard to pass thirteen of my amendments in this Bill.  H.R. 4137 and its amendments are designed to expand many opportunities throughout the Higher Education arena.  Autistic students, returning reservists, students of technical schools are just a few of those who will be helped if H.R. 4137 becomes law.

The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 would reform and strengthen the nation’s higher education programs to ensure that they operate in the best interests of students and families.  Much of this legislation makes an effort to reduce or eliminate various barriers that may prevent students from going to college.

Below are some of the amendments I was able to get included in this legislation:

A pilot program will be created from committee funds to establish an autism living and learning program.  Since New Jersey has one of the highest rates in Autistic children, I feel it is important that these children have the same opportunities as everyone else.  Due to this amendment, autistic children will have the opportunity to gain a secondary education and live in an academic environment independently. 

Year-around Pell Grants will now be extended to those career and technical schools that have 30-week semesters.  Thus, these schools will have the same benefits as other public colleges and universities that run on a regular semester schedule. 

 An amendment was passed authorizing institutions to create joint programs with universities abroad, especially in Asia.  More grant funding will be given to these specific programs, linking more American universities with different parts of the world. 

 American students attending foreign medical schools will be granted the opportunity to take out students loans.  The population of American students studying medicine abroad is increasing. This amendment will allow these students to get the same loan privileges as other American students attending American medical schools.

Universities and colleges that provide housing for students will now be required to inform parents or guardians of any students that are missing, 24hrs after notification is given to the school.  Any school that receives government funding will now be responsible for requiring emergency contact information from each student. 

 Any higher education institution that treats returning reservists as a readmitted student must provide justification to the Secretary.  This is to prevent those who have left school to serve the country from being placed as a lower status student upon their returning.
Many issues in these amendments have originated from the constituents of the First District of New Jersey and I am proud to have successfully incorporated thirteen amendments into H.R. 4137.  As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I will continue to fight to improve our education system. 

To read a summary of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 from the Education and Labor Committee, click on:
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/edlabor_dem/rel111507.html 

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