Student Center

Student Center

 


About Congress

Do you have any questions about Congress or our government in general? Check out Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government for Kids. It is full of useful information for students of all ages, teachers and parents about what our government does and how it works. You can learn about things like the different branches of government; the difference between local, state and federal government; and how a bill becomes a law.

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Jim and The House of Representatives

The state of Tennessee sends nine delegates to the House of Representatives. Jim is honored to represent Tennessee's Fifth Congressional District, which includes western Wilson County, almost all of Davidson County and eastern Cheatham county. He represents his constituents' interests to Congress and can help navigate federal red tape. Jim also serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

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Congressional Art Competition

"An Artistic Discovery" is the annual nationwide Congressional High School Art Competition initiated by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives' Congressional Arts Caucus in 1982. This contest has afforded more than 650,000 high school students the opportunity to express their rich artistic talents in a variety of styles, including painting, drawing, prints, photography and computer-generated art. Each Congressional District hosts its own competition.

Each high school in the 5th District will receive a letter of invitation, along with a packet of information and competition rules. The winner's artwork will join the work of other high school artists from across the nation at a yearlong public exhibit in the corridor leading from the House office buildings to the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Please check back soon for updated 2010 guidelines.

Click here for more information.

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Financial Aid Information

Obtaining financial aid for your college education can be a daunting process. The Congressional Research Service prepared this guide for Members of Congress on locating and applying for financial aid. Updated January 2010.

 

The Basics: Getting Started

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Student Aid and Where it Comes From

Basic assistance categories:

  • Financial need-based
    Remember that students and their parents are responsible for paying what they can -- financial aid is a supplement, not a substitute, for family resources.

  • Non need-based
    Factors include academic excellence, ethnic background, or organization membership. Corporations may also offer assistance to employees and children.

Federal Student Aid:

  • Provides nearly 70% of student aid under Loans, Grants and Work/Study programs

  • Available to all need-based applicants; some loans and competitive scholarships exist for non need-based applicants.

  • Free information from the United States Department of Education:

  • Loans are the most comon form of federal aid and must be repaid when you graduate or leave college.
    • Stafford Loans (FFELs) and Direct Loans include:
    • Perkins Loans through participating schools for the most needy undergraduates

  • Scholarships and grants are mostly need-based and require no repayment:

  • Other grants, scholarships and fellowships that are mostly at the graduate level and can be found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), under terms such as "Student or Trainee" or "Graduate Student".

  • "Congressional" scholarhips:
    • Named for Member of Congress or other prominent individuals (like Byrd Honors Scholarships and Fulbrigh fellowships)
    • Merit-based and highly competitive
    • Members of Congress do not play a role in selecting the recipients

  • Work study programs allow your to earn money while in school:

  • For questions not covered by the Department of Education's website, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243.

 

States offer residents a variety of scholarships, loans and tuition exemptions.

 

Colleges and universities provide some 20% of aid, most need-based. Check the university websites and the institutions' financial aid office when you apply for admission.

Private foundations, corporations and organizations offer scholarships or grants:

 

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Targeted Aid for Special Groups

Interested in public service?

Federal assistance programs seek to encourage people to work in geographic areas or professions where there’s a particular need (such as doctors in underserved areas); encourage underrepresented groups to enter a particular profession; and provide aid in exchange for services provided (such as military service).

 

Aid for private K-12 education: No direct federal assistance exists; check with the schools themselves:

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Repaying Your Loans

After college, the federal government has ways to help you repay your loans.

 

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