Higher Education Act (HEA) Reauthorization

Funding authorizations for programs in the Higher Education Act (HEA) will expire during the 108th Congress. This legislation, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, authorizes the federal governments’ major student aid programs, as well as other significant initiatives.

General information and Analysis of 2003/2004 HEA:

Article by Congressional Research Service (adaptation): “Higher Education Act: Reauthorization Status and Issues”

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions http://health.senate.gov

House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Work Force: http://edworkforce.house.gov

Hearings of the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness: http://edworkforce.house.gov/hearings/107th/21st/21sthearings.htm

For a good summary of HEA reauthorization, see the web site of the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation

To find out more about various advocacy groups’ positions on HEA reauthorization, see:

Student and Consumer Groups:

• Analysis of “Higher Education Amendments of 2005”, September 2005
• National Consumer Law Center, Center for Law and Social Policy and Work Force Alliance, HEA Recommendations, April 2005
• Testimony of NCLC, Center for Law and Social Policy and the Work Force Alliance re: H.R. 4283", May 12, 2004
• National Consumer Law Center, Center for Law and Social Policy and Work Force Alliance, "Safeguarding Federal Financial Aid From Fraud and Abuse", April 2004. During reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, Congress has the opportunity to make higher education more accessible for underserved students, including many working adults and older youth. This two-page fact sheet, jointly prepared by the National Consumer Law Center, CLASP, and the Workforce Alliance, urges Congress to seize this opportunity-but with caution. Innovations and reforms must be balanced against the danger of repeating past abuses.
• National Consumer Law Center, HEA Recommendations, February 2003
• U.S. PIRG/State PIRGs Higher Education Project, HEA Recommendations, January 2003
• U.S. Students Association
• Center for Law and Social Policy (HEA Recommendations, February 2003)

College and University Associations:

• American Association of State Colleges and Universities
• National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
• Alliance for Equity in Higher Education
• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

Student Loan Industry:

• Consumer Bankers Association
• Education Finance Council
• National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs