GovTrack and Perkins Education Bill

NOTE: I wrote this fo GovTrack on the Google site and it’s saved…but just in case.

Bill Number: H.R. 3594 Title: Higher Education Extension Act of 2015 Senate Denies Renewal of Perkins Loan for Higher Education Renewed almost without question since establishment in 1965, The Federal Perkins Loan Program--providing loans that aid payment in higher education--was unexpectedly allowed to lapse on September 30, 2015. Established in 1958, Perkins is reported as the “government’s oldest student loan program.”

The defeat is accredited to Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) who has regularly expressed the belief that specifically eliminating the Perkins Loan could streamline the government’s student loan programs.

Alexander was elected as chair of the Senate Health, Education and Labor committee in January 2015 and immediately pointed out to his colleagues why such streamlining is necessary. About half of the 20 million American families with students in college, he said, “have a federal grant or loan to help pay for college.” The problem, he said, is that the “Federal application form for grants and loans for colleges is 108 questions.”

That’s why, Alexander continued, at another committee meeting over a year ago he and his co-author, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) were impressed upon hearing “four witnesses say we only needed two questions to answer 95% of the information we needed to know,” to make a student grant or loan feasible. Instead of the Perkins Loan, Alexander explains, their answer is an actual two-question application recommended in S. 108 FAFSA and known as “Fast Track.”

Perkins’ House version, the Higher Education Extension Act (H.R. 3954) had cosponsors from all aspects of each party. With the Senate defeat, Congressman Mike Bishop (R8MI), sponsor of that Perkins renewal said: “Congress should be making it easier, not harder, for students to make their college goals a reality. That includes making college more affordable and simplifying our financial aid system for every American.”