In the past few weeks, the Committee has been hard at work pushing forward many key education measures.
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.