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  For Immediate Release  
  Contact: Phil Bloomer  
  Phone: (217) 403-4690  
March 31, 2006
 
Rep. Johnson Highlights Higher Education Improvements
 
 
 

Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson said the new College Access and Opportunity Act makes important strides in expanding access, simplifying aid programs and improving the accountability of higher education institutions.

The Act, H.R. 609, passed the House Thursday.

“With this legislation, we have increased aid, cut through the red tape, responded to the needs of a changing world and perhaps most importantly, shined the spotlight on our colleges and universities,” Rep. Johnson said. “Difficult personal circumstances should not be a barrier to access and with this legislation, we have lowered that barrier and for that I’m proud.”

Rep. Johnson’s 15th Congressional District is among the most higher-education intensive districts in the country, with three major public universities, nine community colleges and several private universities within its borders.

Among the accomplishments of this legislation are the following:

·         The maximum Pell grant is increased by $200, to $6,000. The bill also provides for year-round Pell grants to cover summer school. Further, the bill repeals the “tuition sensitivity” rule that limits grant aid for those attending low-cost schools.

·         The “single-holder rule,” which prevented the consolidation of student loans with lenders offering the best deal, is repealed. Current law requires loans to be consolidated with the lender that originally made the loans.

·         Schools are required to disclose their policies on transfers of academic credit.

·         Federally assisted institutions that increase tuition and fees at more than twice the rate of inflation over a three-year interval will be publicly identified.

·         Information gathered by accrediting agencies will be publicly disclosed.

·         An academic “bill of rights” is created to discourage colleges from discriminating against students based on political ideology.

Rep. Johnson also supported the Miller Amendment which would have cut interest rates on student loans. That amendment failed, however. More information on the bill can be found at http://edworkforce.house.gov.

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