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Advocate Online
From Capitol to Campus
Both the House Education and Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee have passed differing versions of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HR 609 and S.1614).
In March, NEA submitted comments jointly with AFT to the House and Senate education committees. The comments focused on student access, program quality, diversity, academic freedom, and teacher education. In spite of small improvements made at our urging, NEA and AFT opposed the House bill after several key proposals to improve it were rejected. NEA and AFT gave positive feedback and suggested changes regarding the Senate bill, which meets many more of the two organizations' priorities.
Among the many areas of focus for NEA/AFT has been the preservation of academic freedom. NEA opposes intrusive provisions purporting to strive for "political balance" but instead threaten political intrusion in curriculum and staffing decisions. The House bill includes such provisions. The Senate bill contains a somewhat milder version.
Because the Higher Education Act is tied to "budget reconciliation," in which Congress must make cuts to mandatory programs like student loans, the next steps are uncertain.
Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the House and Senate were moving to meet a September deadline to achieve the required savings, but the crisis on the Gulf Coast helped to put this aside for right now. Congress will first consider how to provide additional support to the students at all levels displaced by the hurricane. Thus, it is likely that further consideration of the Higher Education Act will be moved into next year. |
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