October 17, 2005

I received the following message over the weekend from NAICU (the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Washington, DC) and a similar message from cIcu (the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in Albany). Both groups are very concerned about the potential dramatic reduction in federal student aid funds, a reduction posed in the Higher Education Reauthorization Act now in debate in Congress.

Congress returned from the August recess to a changed agenda due to Hurricane Katrina. But despite the scope of the disaster, the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) continues to be on track. Senate approval may come in the next few weeks, and final congressional approval before Christmas.

Before Katrina hit, we knew we faced up to $11 billion in student loan cuts in the House HEA bill, and even more in the Senate. These cuts were targeted to help reduce the overall federal deficit. But now Congress is looking for additional offsets to pay for hurricane relief. Budget reconciliation, hurricane relief, and the reauthorization of the HEA are now inextricably bound together. As a matter of fact, we believe the entire HEA reauthorization bill could be attached to the federal budget-cutting legislation ("reconciliation") set for late October.

I ask you to contact your members of Congress and tell them to save federal student aid. There are two easy ways to act:

Whatever your US hometown, you can log onto the NAICU web site and link to the notice Tell Congress: Stop the Raid on Student Aid! This site will give you information on calling and e-mailing your federal elected officials.

New York State residents also can visit the cIcu web site and link to the notice: Urge Congress to stop the raid on student aid!

Thank you for helping to save federal student financial aid.

President Daniel F. Sullivan