Washington, DC - Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is delighted by today's passage of the Kennedy/Ros-Lehtinen Amendment to H.R. 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005. The amendment, co-introduced by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (RI), adds child and adolescent mental health professionals to the list of those eligible for loan forgiveness. The amendment passed in the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 380-38.

Said Ros-Lehtinen: "This amendment adds urgently needed child and adolescent mental health professionals to the list of high-need professions eligible for loan forgiveness. Such an incentive will be a valuable tool to combat the current shortage of these professionals in South Florida and throughout the country. I thank my Congressional colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, for their strong support of this amendment."

H.R. 609, the College Access & Opportunity Act, completes reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which provides funding for Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Perkins Loans, Work Study programs as well as, extends aid for teacher training. The legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 221-199.