Invests the bill’s savings in making college affordable and helping more Americans graduate

• Invests $40 billion to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and to $6,900 by 2019. Starting in 2011, the scholarship will be linked to match rising costs-of-living by indexing it to the Consumer Price Index plus 1 percent.
   

 

• Invests $3 billion to bolster college access and completion support programs for students. It will increase funding for the College Access Challenge Grant program, and will also fund innovative programs at states and institutions that focus on increasing financial literacy and helping retain and graduate students. 
• Strengthens the Perkins Loan program, a campus-based program that provides low-cost federal loans to students, by providing the program with more reliable forms of credit from the federal government and expanding the program to include significantly more college campuses.
• Keeps interest rates low on need-based – or subsidized – federal student loans by making the interest rates on these loans variable beginning in 2012. These interest rates are currently set to jump from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent in 2012.
• Makes it easier for families to apply for financial aid by simplifying the FAFSA form. Building on proposals recently put forth by the Obama administration, the legislation will dramatically cut down the number of questions on the form by allowing students and families to apply for aid using the information on their tax returns.
• Invests $2.55 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions to provide students with the support they need to stay in school and graduate.
• Provides loan forgiveness for members of the military who are called up to duty in the middle of the academic year.
   

Provides reliable, affordable, high-quality Federal student loans for all families

• Converts all new federal student lending to the stable, effective and cost-efficient Direct Loan program. Beginning July 1, 2010, all new federal student loans will be originated through the Direct Loan program, instead of through lenders subsidized by taxpayers in the federally-guaranteed student loan program. Unlike the lender-based program, the Direct Loan program is entirely insulated from market swings and can therefore guarantee students access to low-cost federal college loans, in any economy.
• Provides all federal student loan borrowers with upgraded, modern, state-of-the-art customer service. Rather than force private industry out of the system, the bill will forge a new public-private partnership that provides all borrowers with the highest-quality customer service when repaying their loans and maintains jobs. It will establish a competitive bidding process that allows the U.S. Department of Education to select lenders based on how well they serve borrowers, educate them financially, and prevent loan defaults. It will provide a role for non-profits to continue servicing student loans.
  

Prepares students and workers for 21st century jobs by providing all Americans with the skills and resources they need to compete

• Build a 21st century workforce by encouraging historic partnerships between community colleges, states, businesses, job training and adult education programs. The bill will create a new competitive grant program for community colleges to improve instruction, work with local employers, improve their student support services, and implement other innovative reforms that will lead to a college degree, certificate or industry recognized credential to help fulfill local workforce needs.
• Expands access to education by supporting free, high-quality, online training, high school and college courses. The U.S. Department of Education would be authorized to make competitive grants available to eligible colleges, workforce programs or other entities to help support the development of these courses.
• Ensures that community college students can learn in modern, updated, state-of-the-art facilities by renovating campuses in need of repair.
  

Ensures that the next generation of children enters kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed in school

• Increases the number of low income children entering kindergarten prepared to succeed by reforming state standards and practices for birth-to-five early learning programs. The legislation would create an Early Learning Challenge Fund, which would award competitive grants to states that implement comprehensive standards-based reform of the state’s early learning system that will transform early education standards and practices, build an effective early childhood workforce, and improve the school readiness outcomes of young children.
  
• Provides every child with access to a world-class learning environment by providing school districts with funds for school modernization, renovation, and repair projects that will create healthier, safer, and more energy-efficient teaching and learning climates.
  

Meets Pay-As-You-Go fiscally responsible principles and reduces the deficit 

• Saves taxpayers $87 billion over ten years by switching to the cheaper Direct Loan program, according to the Congressional Budget Office. In addition to investing in college aid, this legislation will also direct $8 billion in savings back to the U.S. Treasury to help pay down the deficit. 

(Myths vs. Facts about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act)

Support for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act

And third, Pell Grants and other aid that a generation ago offered students about half of their tuition costs today cover only about 30 percent.

Over the past three years, the Democratic Congress has made great progress in restoring the scholarship’s purchasing power by increasing it by $1,500. But we’ve got to build on this success if we’re serious about reversing this trend for good.

The student loan market is changing quickly. Even a year ago, families could have confidence that lower-cost federal student loans, whether provided through the government or a private lender, were dependable. Today, it’s a very different story.

Taxpayers pay private companies to make loans, reimburse them if borrowers default and now even fund an emergency mechanism enacted last year to keep them afloat during the credit crisis. In short, taxpayers are pumping billions of dollars into a system that gives lenders all the rewards but none of the risks.

There is good reason that college affordability, next to health care and energy, is one of Obama’s top three domestic priorities.

We must fix this broken system — or risk jeopardizing the educational future of American families and our nation’s competitive future.

Our choice is clear: We can continue funneling taxpayer dollars through boardrooms, or we can start sending them directly to dorm rooms.

Today, after vigorous discussions with all key stakeholders, I am unveiling legislation to create a reliable, affordable and high-quality federal student-aid program that will revive the essential opportunity of a college education for all Americans.

This legislation will meet two crucial goals at once. It will help more students graduate with less debt by dramatically increasing grant aid and stabilizing student loans. And it will do this without costing taxpayers a dime: a pay-as-you-go college aid transformation.

First, this legislation will build on our commitment to strengthening the Pell Grant for low-income students. It will boost the maximum annual scholarship from $5,500 to $6,900 by 2019 by linking it to cost-of-living increases.

Second, it will keep interest rates down on loans for middle-class students. In 2012, interest rates on subsidized federal student loans will increase from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. This bill will make these interest rates variable starting that year, keeping them low and affordable.

Third, it will pay for these investments and insulate all federal student loans from market swings by originating all new loans, starting in 2010, through a more stable option: the Direct Loan Program. Direct lending provides students with the same low-cost loans as lenders but at a fraction of the cost — and without the conflicts of interest that entangled lenders in recent years.

This simple change will save taxpayers almost $90 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The result will be a more dependable, efficient and cost-effective program for families and taxpayers.

Fourth, this bill will upgrade customer services for all federal loan borrowers. Rather than force private industry out of the system, we will forge a new public-private partnership that maintains jobs and provides all borrowers with high-quality services when repaying loans. It will establish a competitive bidding process, allowing lenders and nonprofits to keep doing what they do best: service loans. We’ll harness private-sector innovation for the public good.

Fifth, this legislation will deliver on new initiatives Obama has proposed to prepare students to compete in the jobs of the future. This includes making a game-changing $10 billion investment to turn our community colleges into job training and education vessels that will help drive a strong economic recovery.

Finally, this bill will help build a sound fiscal future for our children by also returning $10 billion to pay down our deficit.

All parents hope their children can receive the best education possible without being crippled by debt. To do this, we must transform our financial aid system from one that benefits banks over students into one that makes paying for college a better deal for families and taxpayers.

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) is the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.
To find out more about this proposed legislation, visit our blog post about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.

MYTH: This is another back-door government takeover of the student loan industry.

It’s ridiculous to argue this is a government takeover, when the federal student loan programs are already a federal program, established and subsidized by the federal government. The Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) now depends on taxpayer dollars not just for subsidies that reimburse lenders when borrowers default on loans, but also for the capital to finance their lending activity altogether. Taxpayers now fund 6 of every 10 dollars in federal student lending activity. They absorb all the risk. There’s simply no reason to keep pumping taxpayer dollars into a broken system when the federal government can provide the same low-cost federal loans more reliably for students and at a lower cost for taxpayers. Under this bill, this federal program will continue to be a federal program, as it always has been, and private industry will continue to have a role, but one that is more effective and cost-efficient for families and taxpayers. 
 
MYTH: Student lenders aren’t the only industry facing credit market troubles. Why should they be treated any differently from mortgage lenders or auto companies?
 
It’s misleading to compare the student loan industry to the auto industry or the mortgage industry. The structure of the federal student loan programs has always guaranteed private lenders a taxpayer subsidy above the cost of making loans – a benefit that auto companies or mortgage lenders don’t enjoy. If someone buys a $20,000 car, we don’t pay the automaker $24,000. Federal student loans, and the decisions made about them, have always been a part of our larger federal financial aid system. It’s a different industry, with a different purpose, than other consumer credit industries. Ensuring that students have access to low-cost, reliable federal college loans is directly tied to our ability to build a stronger, competitive workforce and economic future.
 
MYTH: This bill will only add to the federal budget deficit at a time when we can least afford it.
 
Wrong. This legislation will actually help us pay down the deficit. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill will save $87 billion over 10 years. In addition to increasing grant aid, reducing interest rates on student loans and funding other benefits for students, this bill will direct $10 billion in savings to the U.S. Treasury to reduce our deficit. It’s an investment in a stronger economy and a stronger fiscal future.

MYTH: This legislation will drive competition out of the student loan marketplace – hurting students and families.
 
What will hurt students is not having access to low-cost, reliable federal loans to help pay for college. The financial crisis has already caused many lenders to leave the federal student loan programs, leaving many students in a bind. The Direct Loan program provides the same low-cost loans to students as FFELP, with the added benefit of complete reliability, even in an economic crisis. And the bill will foster competition among lenders by allowing private companies to compete for bids to service these loans – ensuring that contracts are awarded to lenders who offer the best customer service and innovations for borrowers. This is competition that will help students and build on the best of what private industry can offer to borrowers.
 
MYTH: This is nothing but a redistribution of wealth. Why should we finance grant aid increases for the poorest students at the expense of the middle class?
 
Both low-income and middle-class students will benefit from this legislation. Despite recent investments made by President Obama and the Democratic Congress, the Pell Grant scholarship, today only covers about 30 percent of average college tuition and fees – down 20 percent from twenty years ago. In addition to boosting the Pell Grant for low- and moderate-income students, this legislation will also keep interest rates low on college loans for middle-class students, support programs that help students stay in school and graduate and expand access to campus-based aid. This will not only make college more affordable for students while they’re in school, but will also help reduce college debt after graduation – a strategy that can help improve purchasing power of the Pell Grant and strengthen our economy over time.
 
MYTH: Big government is too bureaucratic to run student loans. Services for families will suffer; they may not even get phone calls returned.

The federal government has already proven that it can originate loans more efficiently and reliably than private lenders. Where private lenders have excelled is in servicing loans to students – meaning ensuring that borrowers pay back loans on time, providing financial literacy, and helping prevent loan defaults. This legislation builds on the best of what works in the current system by creating a new public-private partnership that will allow lenders to compete for contracts to service Direct Loans. The bill will also ensure that smaller state non-profit lenders can keep servicing loans. Borrowers will receive only the best customer service, and jobs will be maintained in communities across the country.
 
MYTH: It will cost colleges and universities already facing deep budget crises millions to switch to direct lending – leading to more tuition hikes for families.
 
This is nothing more than a myth cooked up by critics to scare colleges; there is simply no evidence to back this up. Colleges and universities that have switched to Direct Loans, including those that converted in the midst of last year’s credit crisis, report that it was a fairly easy and inexpensive process, in part because schools are able use the same on-site system currently used to administer Pell Grant scholarships.  Penn State, for example, did not have to hire extra staff or increase its budget during this switch last spring.
 
MYTH: Cutting lenders out will lead to massive job losses in an already devastated economy.
 
While this legislation will trim the profits of CEOs and big banks, it will not lead to enormous jobs losses. By maintaining a servicing role for both large and smaller lenders, this bill will preserve jobs and, unlike in the FFELP program, keep them from being shipped overseas.
 
MYTH: The Direct Loan program will not be able to handle this increased capacity.
 
Colleges and universities that already participate in the Direct Loan program have found it easier to administer, simpler for students and parents, and faster at originating and disbursing loans than FFELP. If this legislation passes on schedule, the U.S. Department of Education will have almost a year to prepare for this increased capacity.
 
MYTH: The Direct Loan program doesn’t prevent student loan defaults as well as the federally-guaranteed student loan program does.
 
Recent preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Education shows that in 2007, default rates were lower in the Direct Loan program than in FFELP.  By allowing private lenders to service these loans through a competitive process, which will include default prevention strategies, this bill will ensure that more borrowers can receive service from lenders that have been effective in keeping default rates low. 

First, a new Income-Based Repayment program takes effect that allows borrowers to cap their monthly loan payments at just 15 percent of their income, based on their family size. Any current or future borrower whose student loan payment exceeds 15 percent of their discretionary income is eligible. After 25 years in the program, borrowers’ remaining student loan debts will be completely forgiven.

Take for example, a recent graduate with $30,000 in federal student loans and a starting salary of $25,000. Under an Income-Based Repayment plan, this borrower’s monthly loan payment would be reduced to $110 a month – a third of the $345 they would be required to pay under a standard 10-year repayment plan.

Second, the interest rate on subsidized – or need-based – federal student loans also drops today, from 6 percent to 5.6 percent. Anyone taking a loan after today will benefit, meaning that for millions of students and families sitting down to plan for this fall’s expenses, they’ll have a lower, more affordable interest rate locked in for the life of their loan. This is the second annual cut in these interest rates; they will continue to decrease until they reach 3.4 percent in 2011.

Third, our nation’s neediest students will be able to receive a Pell Grant scholarship of $5,350 this fall that will cover a much larger share of their college expenses than year’s past, a $600 increase above last year’s award. A generation ago the Pell Grant covered about half of a student’s tuition expenses; thirty years later, the purchasing power of the scholarship has dramatically declined.

Finally, for the surge of Americans interested in public service, a recently-established program exists to make it easier for workers with hefty debt loans to go into critically-needed, but typically lower-paying fields. Under this public service loan forgiveness program, workers who work in public sector fields – like teaching, nursing, public interest law, non-profit work, and more – will see their federal student loans completely forgiven after 10 years of service and loan repayments.

This good news is long overdue for students, their families – and especially for this year’s graduates.

In previous years, students could borrow for college with the assurance that a steady salary awaited them upon graduation. Unfortunately, in this economy, that same cushion doesn’t exist.

At 2.3 million, the class of 2009 is the largest class to graduate college to date – into the toughest job market for young workers in 25 years.  In May, unemployment among 20-24 year olds topped 15 percent – up from 9 percent a year ago. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, just 20 percent of 2009 graduates who applied for a job have one – that’s a thirty percent decrease from two years ago.

These graduates are entering this economy with plenty of financial baggage already in tow. The typical student now borrows about $22,000 in federal and private student loans to pay for college. Many borrowers already spend high percentages of their paychecks making student loan payments, especially in expensive cities across the country, where juggling student loan payments with rent, utility bills and other basic expenses can be daunting.

These new benefits will give borrowers a much-needed lifeboat.

The Income Based Repayment and loan forgiveness programs will alleviate some of the stress working families feel when repaying their loans and will empower Americans to go into critical public service jobs – allowing them to keep their primary focus on their interests, not their outstanding loan balances.

In this economy, every little bit of help counts. For the class of 2009, these benefits may be just the graduation gift they’ve been waiting for.

• Cheaper interest rates on need-based (subsidized) federal student loans. On July 1, the interest rates on subsidized federal student loans decreased from 6 percent to 5.6 percent. This is the second of four annual cuts in this interest rate; it will continue to drop until it reaches 3.4 percent in 2011.

• Reasonable and affordable monthly college loan payments for borrowers. On July 1, a new Income-Based Repayment program went into effect that caps borrowers’ monthly loan payments at just 15 percent of their discretionary income (15 percent of what a borrower earns above 150 percent of the poverty level for their family size). Any current or future borrower whose loan payment exceeds 15 percent of their discretionary income is eligible. After 25 years in the program, borrowers’ debts will be completely forgiven.

• Higher Pell Grant scholarships that cover the average tuition at public universities. Due to funding provided by both the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the maximum Pell Grant scholarship for the 2009-2010 school year will be $5,350 – more than $600 above last year’s award.

In addition, students and borrowers will be able to continue to take advantage of other recent programs enacted under the law that will make it easier for graduates to go into public service fields while grappling with student debt. To encourage more students to become teachers, the law provides up-front tuition assistance, known as TEACH Grants, of $4,000 a year – for a maximum of $16,000 – to students who commit to teaching high need subject areas in high need schools for four years after graduation. (These grants first went into effect for the 2008-2009 school year).

Recent surveys also show students’ interest in public service jobs is surging. Graduates who enter into public service careers, such as teachers, public defenders and prosecutors, firefighters, nurses, non-profit workers and more, will be eligible for complete loan forgiveness after 10 years of qualifying public service and loan payments. (This program began on October 1, 2007.)

 
WHO BENEFITS? A SNAPSHOT…

The interest rate cut…

• Nationwide, about 5.5 million students borrow need-based federal student loans each year. According to the Congressional Research Service, half of these borrowers come from families with incomes between $26,000-68,000.
• About 38 percent of African-American students take out need-based student loans each year.
• About 25 percent of Hispanic students take out need-based student loans each year.
  

The Income-Based Repayment program…

• While it’s difficult to estimate an approximate number of borrowers who could participate, at the end of 2008, there were almost $556 billion in outstanding federal loans, representing almost 95 million student loans to more than 30 million borrowers. In 2008, about 8.9 million students borrowed federal loans.

The Pell Grant scholarship…

• About 6 million students received the Pell Grant scholarship for the 2007-2008 school year. Of these students, 75 percent had family incomes below $30,000.
• About 47 percent of all African-American students receive Pell Grant scholarships each year.
• About 37 percent of Hispanic students receive the Pell Grant scholarship each year.
  

WHO QUALIFIES FOR INCOME-BASED REPAYMENT?

• Borrowers who currently are paying back federal student loans and new borrowers, whose debt exceeds 15 percent of their discretionary income. Borrowers with hefty debt loads or low-paying jobs are most likely to qualify.
• The program covers all federal loans – both Direct and Federal Family Education loans – made to students, including Stafford, Grad PLUS and federal consolidation loans, but not those made to parents (PLUS loans). Perkins loans are also eligible if a borrower consolidates them into a FFEL or Direct Loan. 
• A borrower must also have enough debt relative to their income to qualify for a reduced payment. If a borrower earns below 150 percent of their poverty level for their family size, their payment will be $0. If they earn above it, their payment will be capped at 15 percent of whatever their income is over that amount. 

Tips on how to apply for federal student loans and grants »

WHAT:         
Subcommittee Hearing on “Improving Child Nutrition Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity”

WHO:           
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)
U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Michele Paterson, First Lady of New York, New York City & Albany, NY
Nancy Copperman, director, Public Health Initiatives Office of Community Health, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health
System, Great Neck, NY
Dr. Virginia A. Stallings, MD, chair, Institutes of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Nutrition Standards for National School
Lunch and Breakfast Programs
Dr. Patricia Crawford, MD, director, Atkins Center for Weight and Health, Berkeley, CA
Additional Witnesses TBA

WHEN:         
Thursday, May 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:      
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

WHAT:         
Full Committee Hearing on “America’s Competitiveness through High School Reform”

WHO:           
U.S. Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE)
U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ)
Robert Balfanz, Ph.D., Research Scientist, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Scott Gordon, CEO, Mastery Charter Schools, Philadelphia, PA
Marguerite Kondracke, president and CEO, America’s Promise, Washington, DC
Vicki L. Phillips Ed.D, director of education for the US program, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA
Bob Wise, president, Alliance for Excellent Education, Washington, DC            
Michael Wotorson, executive director, Campaign for High School Equity, Washington, DC

WHEN:        
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
3:00 p.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:       
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Hear Chairman Miller talk about the importance of being prepared for a pandemic flu virus at work and school on the Ed show.

Provide schools with access to funding for modernization, renovation and repair projects

• Authorizes $6.4 billion for school facilities projects for fiscal year 2010, and ensures that school districts will quickly receive funds for school modernization, renovation, and repairs that create healthier, safer, and more energy-efficient teaching and learning climates.
• Allocates the same percentage of funds to school districts that they receive under Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, except that it guarantees each such district a minimum of $5,000.
  

Encourage energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources in schools

• Requires the majority of funds (100 percent by 2015) to be used for projects that meet green building standards.
• Allows states to reserve one percent of funds to administer the program and to develop a plan a statewide database of school facilities, including their modernization and repair needs, energy use, carbon footprints, and an energy efficiency quality plan. 
• Requires school districts to publicly report the educational, energy and environmental benefits of projects, how they comply with the green building requirements, and the percentage of funds used for projects at low-income, rural and charter schools.
• Requires the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to disseminate best practices in school construction and to provide technical assistance to states and school districts regarding best practices.
  

Provide additional aid to Gulf Coast schools still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

• Authorizes separate funds – $600 million over six years – for public schools that were damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Many students still attend school in temporary classrooms.

Ensure fair wages and benefits for workers by applying Davis-Bacon protections to all grants for school modernization, renovation, and repair projects

Support for H.R. 2187

American Association of School Administrators »
(PDF, 46KB)

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees »
(PDF, 65KB)

American Federation of Teachers »
(PDF, 73KB)

Council of Educational Facility Planners International »
(PDF, 26KB)

Council of the Great City Schools »
(PDF, 63KB)

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO »
(PDF, 253KB)

National Association of Secondary Schools Principals »
(PDF, 34KB)

National Construction Alliance II »
(PDF, 206KB)

Rebuild America's Schools »
(PDF, 87KB)

U.S. Green Building Council »
(PDF, 37KB)

Other organizations »
(PDF, 54KB)

MAKING COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (signed February 17) will provide immediate relief to students and families working hard to pay for college by:

• Increasing the Pell Grant scholarship by $500. The bill increases the maximum award to $5,350 by next school year and to $5,550 for 2010. About seven million students would benefit from this increase.
• Establishing a new college tuition tax credit of $2,500. The bill establishes a new, partially refundable “American Opportunity” tax credit, expanding access for higher education tax credit to about four million students. 
• Creating new work-study opportunities for college students. The bill invests $200 million in work-study opportunities for college students in fields related to their major or in community service, creating jobs for an additional 200,000 students.
  

The President’s budget blueprint (released February 26) proposes historic increases to the Pell Grant scholarship and other grant aid for students at no additional cost to taxpayers by using federal funds to originate all new federal college loans beginning in the 2010 school year. This would insulate the federal student loan programs from any future instability in the economy and ensure that the Pell Grant keeps pace with rising costs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates this proposal will save taxpayers almost $100 billion over ten years.

RESTORING PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (signed January 29) restores workers’ rights to challenge pay discrimination.

Overturned harmful Bush midnight rule that would have slowed protections for workers from severe lung disease (withdrawn March 17). Under the leadership of the new Administration, OSHA withdrew a last minute Bush era procedural roadblock to that slowed protections for workers who handle the dangerous food flavoring diacetyl. Scientists have linked diacetyl exposure to bronchiolitis obliterans, a severe lung disease often known as “popcorn lung.”

Issued executive orders to restore workers’ rights in federal contracts and establish a Middle Class Task Force (signed January 30, 2009).

LAUNCHING A NEW ERA OF PUBLIC SERVICE

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (signed April 21) expands opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve their nation and communities. It more than triples them number of service opportunities nationwide to 250,000 and increases the full time education award service members receive in exchange for their work to $5,350 for 2010.

EXPANDING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act helps workers who recently lost a job maintain their health coverage while they look for new employment by making them eligible to receive a 65 percent subsidy towards their COBRA premium for up to nine months.

INVESTING IN 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act invests $105.9 billion in early education, k-12 education, and training to help build the world class education system our economy needs and our children deserve. This plan will make sure that the economic crisis doesn’t compromise the quality of education schoolchildren receive. It also makes progress on key, commonsense reforms, like improving teacher quality, strengthening standards, and establishing data systems that track students’ progress, that are needed to transform our schools.

Research has shown that green schools are both healthy and conducive to learning.  Studies have demonstrated a reduction in absences due to illness caused by schools’ indoor pollutants.  These illnesses, such as asthma, are the cause of more than fourteen million missed school days each year. Improved ventilation, day lighting, acoustics and indoor air quality have also been shown to boost academic performance, concentration and overall student achievement.  Due to improved teacher retention and increased student attendance, there is more time for teaching and learning in these productive environments.

In addition to the health and learning benefits, green schools use 33% less energy and 30% less water than a conventional school.  On average, this saves the typical green school $100,000 each year in reduced energy and water costs.  Green schools also reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions, which helps diminish global climate change and lessen our collective carbon footprint.  Additionally, these schools become interactive teaching tools where students see, first-hand, the importance of protecting our planet and build the capacity to solve some of our most pressing environmental challenges.    

According to recent estimates, America’s schools are hundreds of billions of dollars short of appropriate facilities funding, and millions of students attend schools that are unhealthy and unsafe.  To address these challenges and help to ensure that every child attends a green, high-quality facility, Congressman Ben Chandler (D-KY), Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and I introduced H.R. 3021, “The 21st Century Green High Performing Public School Facilities Act,” in the 110th Congress.  This bill, which passed the House last summer, would dedicate billions of dollars to helping school districts implement school facilities projects that meet a recognized green building standard, and it will continue to be a priority for us in this Congress, as well as for Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA), another leader in this effort.  Additionally, among “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s” historic investments in education are billions of dollars that school districts can use for such projects, among other uses.  

I believe that Congress must be a leader in promoting environmental innovation, especially in helping school districts do so.  By helping to create environmentally friendly schools, we can foster a green generation prepared to tackle future challenges.  I hope you will join with me this Earth Day to support healthy, high-performing, green schools.

WHAT:        
Chairmen Miller, McCarthy Join President Obama at Signing Ceremony for Landmark National Service Bill
WHEN:        
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
4:00 p.m., EDT
WHERE:       
The SEED School
4300 C Street SE
Washington, D.C.
 

How the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping local school districts

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (H.R. 1388):

Creates 175,000 New Service Opportunities and Rewards Americans for Commitment

• Grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. These new service opportunities will include the expansion of existing service programs, like AmeriCorps, as well as four new service corps focused on education, health care, energy and veterans. All service programs established under the bill will be overseen by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• Increases the full-time education award service members receive in exchange for their work to $5,350 for 2010. This award would also be linked to match future increases in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.
  

Creates New Service Corps to Meet Key Needs in Low-Income Communities

• Establishes four new service corps to address key needs in low income communities, including a Clean Energy Corps to encourage energy efficiency and conservation, an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement and graduation, a Healthy Futures Corps to improve health care access, and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans.

Provides Incentives for Middle and High School Students to Engage in Service

• Establishes the Summer of Service program that engages middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs. Students will be eligible to participate in two terms of service and earn up to a total of $1,000.

Makes High School Students Part of Solution to Challenges in their Communities

• Establishes Youth Engagement Zones, a new service-learning program to engage low-income high school students and out-of-school youth in volunteer efforts that address challenges in their local communities. The program will encourage partnerships between community-based organizations and schools in high-need communities and apply real world activities to teach students about a certain topic. For example, volunteering in a homeless shelter could supplement a class about poverty.

Boosts Opportunities for Disadvantaged and Foster Youth and Native Americans

• Expands opportunities for disadvantaged youth, including doubling the resources available to engage youth with disabilities, to become more involved with service and offers people of all ages and those from diverse backgrounds introduction to service.
• Encourages adults to serve as mentors for foster youth.
• Establishes a new office for service opportunities for Native Americans.
  

Strengthens Disaster Relief Service Efforts

• Expands the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include disaster relief, infrastructure improvement, environmental and energy conservation, and urban and rural development.
• Encourages service partnerships with other federal agencies and increases the participation of disadvantaged youth to 50 percent of program participants by 2011.
  

Establishes an Alumni Reserve to Respond in Emergencies

• Establishes an alumni corps of former participants who can be called to service during times of disaster and other emergencies.

Bolsters America’s Competitiveness

• Encourages scientists, technicians and mathematicians to participate in service programs to help keep our nation competitive.

Expands Service Opportunities for Older Americans and Public-Private Partnerships

• Creates two new fellowships to engage social entrepreneurs, boomers and retirees, the private sector and Americans from all generations into service. Older Americans will be allowed to transfer their awards to a child, foster child or grandchild to help them pay for college.

1. ServeAmerica Fellowships: ServeAmerica Fellows are individuals who propose their own plans for serving in their communities to address national needs and are matched up with a service sponsor.
2. Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships: These programs offer Americans, age 55 or older, post-career service opportunities as well as entrance into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector. Silver Scholars will be able to earn up to $1,000 in exchange for 350 hours of service.
   

Creates a nationwide community-based infrastructure to leverage investments in service

• Builds a nationwide service infrastructure through community-building investments, social entrepreneurship, and programs to support and generate new volunteers.

1. Community Solutions Fund: Creates a Community Solutions Fund pilot program that awards competitive matching grants to social entrepreneur venture funds in order to provide community organizations with the resources to replicate or expand proven solutions to community challenges, including a new focus on leveraging public private partnerships in small communities and rural areas. (Examples of service organizations that were launched by social entrepreneurs include Teach for America, City Year, Citizen Schools, Jump Start, Working Today, an organization that provides affordable, portable health benefits to 100,000 Americans, and the SEED school, the nation’s first public urban boarding school.)
2. Volunteer Generation Fund: Provides grants to improve the quality and capacity of organizations to work with volunteers, and to create innovations in volunteerism in the areas of recruitment, training and management.
   

Encourages Highly Skilled Professionals to Help Improve Global Health

• Expands the Volunteers for Prosperity program which encourages highly skilled professionals to serve internationally in targeted areas of need such as global health.

Establishes Call to Service Campaigns

• Includes a Call to Service Campaign to launch a national campaign encouraging all Americans to engage in service and to observe September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance

Recognizes and Supports Colleges and Universities Engaged in Service

• Establishes the Campuses of Service to support and recognize institutions of higher education with exemplary service-learning programs and assists students in the pursuit of public service careers.

Harriet Dichter, Deputy Secretary for the Office of Child Development and Early Learning of the Pennsylvania Departments of Education and Public Welfare and co-chair of the Pennsylvania Early Learning Council, stated that there isn’t just one investment or program that is the “silver bullet.”  “What matters,” said Dicther, “regardless the program, is a common framework of high standards, accountability, and sufficient investment to make a difference.”  Dichter explained that we must expand federal funding that will insist that states have research-based standards and accountability based on nationally acceptable minimums and that it is possible to have a national baseline that does not interfere with the states’ autonomy.

The Deputy Secretary pointed out that we need to develop a consistent national framework of standards.  A question I would pose to Dichter and others is how the federal government might both implement national standards and preserve states’ autonomy and creativity in programming.  Further, I would welcome her input, and those of others, as to how we might implement national accountability standards without creating a “No Child Left Behind Act” for pre-school children.  I look forward to continuing this dialogue with Dichter and others in future Committee hearings on early childhood development.

We know that children’s experiences in the first five years of life greatly influence brain architecture and chemistry in ways that can have lifelong impacts on learning, behavior, and health.  And we know that the knowledge and skills gap between children from less advantaged families and those from higher-income families is evident before elementary school.  A high-quality early education – one of the most important opportunities we can give our children – will ensure future generations’ success in school and beyond.

Studies show that green and other service initiatives yield direct, tangible economic benefits. A cost-benefit analysis of AmeriCorps, under which many green service programs currently operate, shows that every $1 invested produced returns of $1.50 to $3.90 in direct measurable benefits. Similarly, every dollar invested in weatherization – a major green service component – produces $3.71 in benefits.

Green service programs are already making a big difference in communities across the country. Currently, more than a hundred energy conservation service programs operate in 46 states and serve 26,000 young Americans each year. For example, the Montana Conservation Corps have weatherized and retrofit more than 4,000 homes in low income communities and reservations. In Colorado, the Mile High Youth Corps – 50 percent are high school dropouts – perform energy audits and retrofits that save families in Denver $110 a year in utility costs. For more examples of similar initiatives, click here.

By increasing the numbers of volunteers and service corps, the legislation will give critical programs, such as the St. Bernard Project, a program that helps get families back into their homes after Hurricane Katrina, have more hands to help rebuild communities and lives.

Americans’ desire to give back is growing. In the five year after September 11th, the percent of college students who volunteer increased to over 30 percent.  In 2007, more than 61 million Americans spent over 8 billion hours volunteering, generating $158 billion worth of benefits.

Young Americans have a growing interest in service: In 2008, more than a quarter of Americans over the age of 16 volunteered. Research shows that youth who engage in service and volunteerism are more likely to be altruistic adults, and more likely to say they’ll pursue college.

To give more young Americans the opportunity to get involved, the GIVE Act will create a Summer of Service Program to engage middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities. In return for their service contributions, students will earn a $500 education award to put toward getting a college education.

It also will establish new Youth Engagement Zones, service learning programs that will build partnerships between community-based organizations and schools to help high school students and out-of-school youth address specific challenges, especially in low-income communities.  

Overall, the bill (H.R. 1388) will more than triple the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans of all ages, from 75,000 to 250,000, and establishes a new service corps focused on education. It will also increase the education reward participants receive from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award.

The states represented in today’s hearing – Nebraska, Georgia, Illinois, New York, and Kansas – have demonstrated that state and local commitments to investing in early education and child care can be successful.  As Jessie Rasmussen, vice president of the Buffett Early Childhood Fund in Nebraska, explained, “common quality standards, clear pathways to meeting research-based standards of quality, sufficient funding for not only reaching these standards but for sustaining quality operations, and flexibility in meeting family needs have been essential elements in our efforts to build a comprehensive, highly effective, birth to five early childhood system.”  Those same sentiments were echoed by other panelists who also pointed to research-based policy making and statewide collaboration as critical components of successful early education initiatives.

Other common themes we heard in today’s hearing had to do with ensuring access to high quality child care and early education opportunities, supporting families in their role as children’s first and most important teachers, and the need for improved data collection and analysis so we can learn from and improve on what we know works.  We also heard that federal early education policy should foster collaboration at the state level and allow flexibility for states, as some states are further along the spectrum of access and quality, and every state has its own strengths and cultural needs.

Many states – including my home state of Hawaii – have a lot of work ahead of us before our children will have access to high quality child care and preschools.  From what we’ve heard from our panel today, investments in early education are especially important now during this economic downturn.  As more parents lose their jobs and more homes are lost through foreclosures, we must continue to support families in providing affordable, safe, consistent learning environments for their children.

WHAT:           
Education and Labor Committee Mark-Up of H.R. 1388, the GIVE Act

WHEN:          
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT

WHERE:        
Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

The GIVE Act (H.R. 1388):

Creates 175,000 New Service Opportunities and Rewards Americans for Commitment

• Grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. The bill also links the full-time education award to the maximum authorized Pell Grant award amount in order to keep up with rising college costs.

Provides Incentives for Middle and High School Students to Engage in Service

• Establishes the Summer of Service program that engages middle and high school students in volunteer activities in their communities and allows them to earn a $500 education award to be used for college costs.  

Makes High School Students Part of Solution to Challenges in their Communities

• Establishes Youth Engagement Zones, a new service-learning program to help bridge partnerships between community based organizations and schools in high-need, low-income communities to engage high school students and out-of-school youth in service-learning to address specific challenges their communities face.

Recognizes and Supports Colleges and Universities Engaged in Service

• Establishes the Campuses of Service to support and recognize institutions of higher education with exemplary service-learning programs and assists students in the pursuit of public service careers.  

Boosts Opportunities for Disadvantaged Youth

• Expands opportunities for disadvantaged youth, including those with disabilities, to become more involved with service and strives to include people of all ages and those from diverse background in volunteerism.

Creates Green and Other New Service Corps to Meet Key Needs in Low-Income Communities

• Establishes four new service corps to address key needs in low income communities, including a Clean Energy Corps to encourage energy efficiency and conservation measures, an Education Corps to help increase student engagement, achievement and graduation, a Healthy Futures Corps to improve health care access, and a Veterans Service Corps to enhance services for veterans.

Broadens Scope of Collaborative Service Efforts

• Expands the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include disaster relief, infrastructure improvement, environmental and energy conservation, and urban and rural development.
• Encourages service partnerships with other federal agencies.
  

Recruits Scientists and Engineers to Service to Keep America Competitive

• Recruits scientists, technicians, mathematicians and engineers into national service to help keep America competitive.

Establishes an Alumni Reserve to Respond in Emergencies 

• Establishes an alumni corps of former participants who can be called to service during times of disaster and other emergencies.

Expands Service Opportunities for Older Americans and Public-Private Partnerships

• Creates two new fellowships to engage social entrepreneurs, seniors and retirees, the private sector and Americans from all generations in service.

1. ServeAmerica Fellowships: ServeAmerica Fellows are individuals who propose their own plans for serving in their communities to address national needs and are matched up with a service sponsor.
2. Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships: These programs offer seniors, age 55 or older, opportunities to transition into service post-career as well as entrance into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector.
   

Creates a Nationwide Community-Based Infrastructure to Leverage Investments in Service

• Builds a nationwide service infrastructure through community-building investments and social entrepreneurship.

1. Community Solutions Fund: Creates a Community Solutions Fund pilot program that awards competitive matching grants to social entrepreneur venture funds in order to provide community organizations with the resources to replicate or expand proven solutions to community challenges.
2. Volunteer Generation Fund: Provides grants to improve the quality and capacity of organizations to work with volunteers, and to create innovations in volunteerism in the areas of recruitment, training and management.
   

Establishes Call to Service Campaigns

• Includes a Call to Service Campaign to launch a national campaign encouraging all Americans to engage in service and to observe September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Support for the GIVE Act (H.R. 1388)

"We, the undersigned Mayors, support expanding community and national service opportunities for Americans of all ages. In this difficult time for our country, service remains an enduring American value that brings people together and reminds us of the strength of our common bond.  As mayors, we have seen first hand how important community and national service can be to help us address pressing challenges in our cities and towns...

"We urge the Congress to promptly pass and fully fund the bi-partisan Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act – H.R. 1388."

U.S. Mayors
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 13KB)»


"We write in support of reauthorizing and expanding AmeriCorps and other national service and volunteer programs that the Corporation for National and Community Service administers.  Accordingly, we support the passage of the House Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act and the Senate Serve America Act.  In this difficult time for our country, service remains an enduring American value that brings communities together and reminds us of the strength of our common bond.

"As Governors, we witness firsthand the positive effects that national service and volunteerism have in communities throughout our states.  Through outstanding state-federal partnerships, we have a unique opportunity to support service and volunteering through Corporation for National and Community Service programs.  Additionally, Governor-appointed state commissions oversee and administer AmeriCorps, promote national service and volunteering, and develop innovative volunteer opportunities to meet the needs of our communities and our states."

U.S. Governors
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 520KB)»


"I too agree with President Obama's call to Congress to invest in our nation's recovery through service.  The time is now!  Today's challenges are why the work of those who choose to serve their communities through programs such as those supported by the GIVE Act is so crucial."

Usher Raymond IV, Chairman and Founder
Usher's New Look Foundation
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 231KB) »


“Students graduating from high school and college face two of the greatest challenges in our nation’s history – an economic crisis and global warming.  This legislation will jumpstart a new generation of green leaders by teaching them skills needed to develop clean energy and improve our nation’s energy efficiency, which is the cheapest, fastest, and cleanest way to reduce global warming pollution and save money.”

Jim Presswood, Federal Energy Policy Director
Natural Resources Defense Council


"On behalf of the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities (USU), thank you for including provisions in the GIVE Act (H.R. 1388) that support community service and service learning efforts by universities.  We endorse the overall purpose of the legislation to encourage more Americans to serve and volunteer in areas of national need...    

"As anchors for our nation’s cities, USU institutions are engaged in partnerships and outreach within our local communities and metropolitan areas, including community service and service learning."

Nancy L. Zimpher, Chair
Coalition of Urban Serving Universities
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 93KB) »


"The GIVE Act will dramatically improve the national service field’s ability to meet our nation’s most challenging needs. Jumpstart applauds the inclusion of provisions to strengthen national and community service, including the provisions to create new Corps to address particular challenges, increase in the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award amount, allow individuals to be eligible to receive an aggregate of two full-time service awards, and establish a Community Solutions Fund to support the growth of innovative programs.

"The call for national service has never been more important."

James Cleveland, President
Jumpstart
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 32KB) »


"On behalf of over 40 million members, AARP writes in support of an amendment to incorporate the Volunteer Generation Fund in H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act (G.I.V.E. Act), and to support enactment of H.R. 1388 with the inclusion of the Volunteer Generation Fund...

"This legislation will strengthen and expand civic engagement and volunteer opportunities at a time when many communities are in great need."

David P. Sloane, Senior Vice President
Government Relations and Advocacy
AARP
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 787KB) »


"NCOA’s work in national and community service clearly demonstrates that adults approaching retirement age are concerned about the future of the country and want to give back – but in new ways with more impact. Many of them will be interested in exploring service opportunities, but may need some incentive and encouragement to get involved. NCOA believes that our nation should adopt public policies that empower older adults to make a
commitment to remain active citizens in their communities in ways that address critical human needs. We believe the provisions of the GIVE Act with its recommendations for modernizing the National Senior Corps does just that."

James P. Firman
National Council on Aging
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 94KB) »


"The GIVE Act includes many important programmatic adjustments that will help to make the benefits of service available to more participants and more communities, improve program quality, provide a mechanism for appropriate evaluation of programs, ensure participant diversity, recalculate the value of the AmeriCorps Education Award, and address a host of other structural and programmatic issues...

"By reauthorizing these national service programs, you can ensure that every American has an opportunity to serve in his or her community. Our communities, our states, and our entire nation will benefit from the continued services that these volunteers provide."

Tom Branen, Executive Director
America’s Service Commissions
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 108KB) »


"On behalf of the students, families, staff, and supporters of Citizen Schools, I offer our strong support for the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act (H.R. 1388)...

"This legislation will allow organizations like Citizen Schools to serve more children, more effectively. Citizen Schools is a leading national education initiative that uniquely mobilizes thousands of adult volunteers to help improve student achievement and close the achievement gap by teaching skill-building apprenticeships after school."

Eric Schwarz, President and CEO
Citizen Schools
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 64KB) »


"Through our work at the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, we have seen how service can be a powerful strategy for meeting growing needs, giving Americans meaningful work in a difficult climate, and getting our economy moving again.  That is why I am writing to urge you to support swift passge and full funding of the GIVE Act (H.R. 1388)."

Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director
Serve Connecticut
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 1.35MB) »


"We are deeply grateful that the House Education and Labor Committee has recognized the pivotal moment we are in as a country and responded by passing H.R. 1388, The GIVE Act.  Service can play a critical role in getting our economy moving again, engaging Americans in productive work in difficult times and meeting the growing needs in communities.  We need to reinvest in service, starting with the reauthorization of national and community service programs operated by The Corporation for National and Community Service, which have not been reauthorized in 16 years.
 
"We believe that the provisions in H.R. 1388 will make it possible for more Americans to serve, stimulate more volunteering and increase the diversity of those serving.  We also believe that the reforms contained in the bill will ensure accountability, transparency, and results, while providing administrative simplification to help faith and community-based organizations—particularly those smaller nonprofits operating in rural areas and in economically disadvantaged communities—to more effectively meet community needs."

National Service Organizations
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 176KB) »


"Thank you for your leadership in the face of such unprecedented economic challenges.  We are writing to express our strong support for the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act of 2009 (GIVE Act).  The GIVE Act will reauthorize the National and Community Services Act of 1990 by making key reforms to the Americorps program.  Community challenges such as rising unemployment and the current foreclosure crisis have disproportionately affected our most vulnerable communities, which is why the work of those who choose to serve these communities through programs such as the ones supported by the GIVE Act is so crucial."

Michael Rubinger, President and Chief Executive Officer
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 76KB) »


"We are deeply grateful that the House Education and Labor Committee has recognized the pivotal moment we are in as a country and has responded by passing H.R. 1388, The GIVE Act.  The Act recognizes that we need to reinvest in service, starting with the reauthorization of national and community service programs operated by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which have not been reauthorized in 16 years."

W. David Mallery, Executive Director
Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 410KB) »


"Responding to systemic problems and crises that face our country, young Americans are giving back in record numbers (nearly a quarter of those over age 16 have volunteered). The Millennial Generation, growing up in the wake of the September 11th attacks, is leading a movement of citizen-centered change and joining together across generational, cultural and socio-economic bounds in a shared sense of ownership and national responsibility. It is in this spirit of renewed civic engagement and service that we urge your support of The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (“GIVE”) Act."

Chris Golden & Nick Troiano
Co-Founders, myImpact
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 29KB) »


"I hope that you will support swift passage of the GIVE Act and the Volunteer Generation Fund amendment when both come to the House floor this week."

Rachel A. Chadderdon, Executive Director
ServeWyoming
Click here to read full letter of support (PDF, 42KB) »

Hon. Harris Wofford's testimony:




Richard Stengel's testimony:




James Harris' testimony:




Van Jones' testimony:



(More videos from the hearing will be posted as they become available.)

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 26th, the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness will hold a second hearing about New Innovations and Best Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act at 10:00 am in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building.  The hearing will be broadcast live here.

Create new jobs in construction and other industries

• Provides funds to repair and modernize existing public school and higher education facilities, as part of the $53.6 billion state stabilization fund. School districts will receive these funds through state and federal education formulas. Funds could be used to:

1. Improve the teaching and learning climate;
2. Make schools energy efficient, which could save taxpayers billions in energy costs;
3. Replace light systems and security doors; 
4. Repair heating and ventilation systems; 
5. Bring facilities into compliance with fire, health, and safety codes; 
6. Make necessary modifications to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act;  and 
7. Eliminate exposure to mold, asbestos, mildew and lead-based paint.
   

Update schools with 21st century technology

• Provide $650 million for Enhancing Education Through Technology (EdTech) – a program which provides grants to schools to increase access to educational technology and further integrate technology into the classroom.  
  

Create green, modern, state-of-the-art classrooms and schools

• Encourages that funds be used to support projects that meet green standards, including projects such as installing green roofs and installing renewable energy generation and heating systems.
  

Prevent teacher layoffs and restore state cuts to education

• Creates a $53.6 billion state stabilization fund to help prevent education-related layoffs, upgrade, repair and modernize schools and restore harmful cuts to education funding, including $39.5 billion for local school districts and public colleges and universities;
• Require states to meet certain criteria in order to be eligible for funds, including:
  

1. Maintain their FY06 education funding levels
2. Address teacher distribution inequities to ensure every classroom has a qualified, effective teacher
3. Establish a longitudinal data system to help teachers gauge students progress in real time and lay groundwork for use of growth models for accountability
4. Develop more fair and better assessments for students to measure critical thinking, problem solving and other complex skills students will need in today’s world.
5. Improve state educational standards for students
6. Comply with school improvement provisions of current law
   

• Includes $5 billion for bonus grants to states for making progress in those key areas.

Strengthen education resources for students in need

• Provides $13 billion for Title I grants for high poverty schools, which includes $3 billion to provide extra help to struggling schools;
• Invests $12.2 billion to help schools maintain services for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  

Make critical investments in early education for an additional 124,000 children

• Provides $2.1 billion for Head Start, and Early Head Start, which provides comprehensive development services for low-income preschool children, infants and toddlers. This will expand early education opportunities for an additional 124,000 children and create 50,000 early education jobs;
• Studies have shown that Head Start is one of the best ways to improve child well-being, increase the educational achievement and future productivity of children, and reduce crime. Studies also show that $1 invested in early education yields up to $17 in returns.
  

Keep teens safe with new national standards for residential programs that are focused on teens with behavioral, emotional, or mental health, or substance abuse problems

• Prohibit programs from physically, mentally, or sexually abusing children in their care;
• Prohibit programs from denying children essential water, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care – whether as a form of punishment or for any other reason;
• Require programs to provide children with reasonable access to a telephone and inform children accordingly;
• Require programs to train staff in what constitutes child abuse and neglect and how to report it; 
• Require that programs only physically restrain children if it is necessary for their safety or the safety of others, and to do so in a way that is consistent with federal law already applicable in other contexts; and
• Require programs to have plans in place to provide emergency medical care.
  

Prevent deceptive marketing by residential programs for teens

• Require programs to disclose to parents the qualifications, roles, and responsibilities of staff members;
• Require programs to notify parents of substantiated reports of child abuse or violations of health and safety laws; and
• Require programs to include a link or web address for the website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which will carry information on residential programs.
  

Hold teen residential programs accountable for violating the law

• Require states to inform the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of reports of child abuse and neglect at covered programs and require HHS to conduct investigations of such programs to determine if a violation of the national standards has occurred; and
• Provide HHS the authority to assess civil penalties up to $50,000 for every violation of the law.
  

Ask states to step in to protect teens in residential programs

Within three years, states must require all public and private programs to be licensed, meet standards that are at least as stringent as the national standards, and implement a monitoring and enforcement system. The Department of Health and Human Services would continue to inspect programs where a child fatality has occurred or where a pattern of violations has emerged.


Background

• February 23, 2009: House passes Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009, by a vote of 295-102 »
  
• February 11, 2009: Committee passes Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009, by a vote of 32-10 »
  
• Full Committee Hearing: "Child Abuse and Deceptive Marketing by Residential Programs for Teens" »
• GAO Audio Clips: Examples of Deceptive Marketing Practices »
• Full Committee Hearing: "Cases of Child Neglect and Abuse at Private Residential Treatment Facilities" »
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 »
  

Support for H.R. 911

• Parents of victims »
  (PDF, 8KB)
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry »
  (PDF, 282KB)
• American Academy of Pediatrics »
  (PDF, 36KB)
• American Association of Children's Residential Centers »
  (PDF, 106KB)
• American Bar Association »
  (PDF, 59KB)
• American Humane Association »
  (PDF, 34KB)
• American Psychological Association »
  (PDF, 48KB)
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities »
  (PDF, 171KB)
• Bazelon Center »
  (PDF, 85KB)
• Child Welfare League of America »
  (PDF, 54KB)
• Coalition of groups serving children and adolescents with mental health or substance use conditions »
  (PDF, 10KB)
• Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth »
  (PDF, 26KB)
• Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates »
  (PDF, 23KB)
• Disability Policy Coalition »
  (PDF, 29KB)
• Easter Seals »
  (PDF, 132KB)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness »
  (PDF, 28KB)
• National Child Abuse Coalition »
  (PDF, 17KB)
• National Disability Rights Network »
  (PDF, 56KB)
• TASH »
  (PDF, 35KB)

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho

Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri

Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania

Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

District of Columbia

Puerto Rico

Click here to download CRS state-level data on Child Care and Development Block Grant Discretionary Funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act »

How the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping Americans

In 2008, Duncan testified before the Education and Labor Committee with mayors and superintendents of major U.S. cities on how to improve America’s schools and close the achievement gap:

 

For Duncan's written testimony, click here.

Continued Access to Student Loans Act: Signed Into Law

On May 7, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 was signed into law. This measure provides new protections to ensure that families can continue to access the loans they need to pay for college. Chairman Miller said: "Today we have taken another big step in the right direction for students and families working hard to pay for college in a very tough economy."

Protecting Our Children Comes First Act: Signed Into Law

On June 3, the "Protecting Our Children Comes First Act" was signed into law, reauthorizing and funding federal missing and exploited children programs, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Chairman Miller and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy said in a joint statement: "Nothing matters more than keeping our children out of harm’s way, and this law is a fundamental part of our efforts to do just that."

Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act: Passed by House

The House passed the bipartisan Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008 on June 25 by a vote of 318-103. The bill would stop child abuse in teen residential programs attended by tens of thousands of U.S. teenagers, including therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness camps, boot camps, and behavior modification facilities. Depending on the state where they are located, some of these programs are regulated; some are not. As a result of this loose patchwork of regulations, reports of child abuse at the programs have frequently gone unchecked. The Government Accountability Office found thousands of allegations of child abuse and neglect at residential programs for teens between 1994 and 2007. Tragically, in a number of cases, this abuse and neglect led to the death of a child. 

21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act: Passed by House

Public school buildings around the country would receive much-needed renovations and modernization under the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, passed by the House on June 4 by a vote of 250 to 164.  The measure would provide funding to states and school districts to help ensure that school facilities and learning environments are safe, healthy, energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and technologically up-to-date. The bill would also provide additional support for Gulf Coast schools still recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 

Providing Resources Early for Kids Act: Passed by Committee

On June 26, the Committee passed the Providing Resources Early for Kids Act, by a vote of 31-11, to improve the quality of state pre-school programs, which collectively serve more than 1 million young children. Research increasingly demonstrates that the first years of children’s lives have a much greater and more lasting impact on their future growth and learning than was previously understood. H.R. 3289 establishes a federal-state partnership to expand high-quality early childhood educational opportunities to more children. It provides incentives to states to ensure that their pre-k programs meet children’s developmental and educational needs.

No Child Left Inside Act: Passed by Committee

On June 18, the Committee passed the No Child Left Inside Act by a vote of 37-8. This measure would improve environmental education for schoolchildren both inside and outside of the classroom.

Education Begins at Home Act: Passed by Committee

Also on June 18, the Committee passed the Education Begins at Home Act, a bill to provide critical support services to families, reduce child abuse, and help more children arrive at school ready to succeed by expanding access to early childhood home visitation programs for parents and children.