3/29/2006 - Washington, DC - Several bills of interest to the student loan community, including a bill to extend programs under the Higher Education Act yet again, to June 30, have been recently introduced. In addition, on February 28, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions filed a report on its bill to reauthorize programs under the Higher Education Act.
H.R. 4810: Amends recently-enacted provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 relating to Academic Competitiveness Grants to provide that chief State school officers, rather than the Secretary of Education, recognize rigorous secondary school programs of study. Sponsor: Rep Bishop, Rob UT-1 (introduced 2/28/2006) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 2/28/2006 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
H.R. 4906: 21st Century Innovation Act of 2006 – a bill to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Sponsor: Rep Ford, Harold E., Jr. TN-9 (introduced 3/8/2006) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 3/8/2006 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
H.R. 4911: Higher Education Extension Act of 2006 -- temporarily extends the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 through June 30, 2006. Sponsor: Rep McKeon, Howard P. (Buck) CA-25 (introduced 3/9/2006) Cosponsors (5) Latest Major Action: Passed the House of Representatives March 14, 2006. 3/27/2006 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.
S. 2337: College Pathway Act of 2006 -- a bill to increase access to postsecondary education. Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to states to establish preschool through postsecondary (P-16) education stewardship commissions or systems of these commissions and P-16 education data systems. Tasks each commission with reaching a consensus among statewide education stakeholders on the skills, knowledge, and patterns of coursework needed to successfully transition to and complete postsecondary education. Requires that state-level longitudinal P-16 data systems track the academic performance of each student so that the factors which correlate with such success may be identified and publicized. Sponsor: Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. CT (introduced 2/28/2006) Cosponsors (5) Latest Major Action: 2/28/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
S. RES. 395: ACE Resolution -- a resolution relating to American Competitiveness through Education (ACE). Among the provisions of the resolution is a statement that it is the sense of the Senate that Congress should act to make college more affordable by, among other measures, making student loans more affordable by reducing interest rates and fees for students and families. Sponsor: Sen Harkin, Tom IA (introduced 3/9/2006) Cosponsors (6) Latest Major Action: 3/9/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
S. 2390: National Innovation Act--Commerce Provisions -- a bill to provide a national innovation initiative. Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John NV (introduced 3/8/2006) Cosponsors (15) Latest Major Action: 3/8/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
S. 2423: Securing Excellence in Education for Our Kids in Math and Science Act of 2006 or the `SEEK Math and Science Act' – a bill to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Sponsor: Sen Santorum, Rick PA (introduced 3/15/2006) Cosponsors (1) Latest Major Action: 3/15/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
S. 2458: Kick Start to College Act – a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to encourage college savings by providing a Federal income tax credit to match contributions to Coverdell education savings accounts, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Stabenow, Debbie MI (introduced 3/27/2006) Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 3/27/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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