Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR)
Urge AZ General Assembly to Pass Pro-Education Resolution

Last week the Arizona General Assembly introduced a resolution, concurrent memorial HCM 2004, which, if enacted, will call on Congress to repeal the Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision. The HEA Drug Provision is a federal law that delays or denies eligibility for financial aid for college to would-be students with drug convictions -- even a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge can result in the loss of aid. Since the law took effect in 2000, more than 160,500 would-be students have lost financial aid because of the law.

The Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR) is asking supporters to contact their elected officials in Arizona to express support for this effort. If you are represented by one of the cosponsors of this bipartisan effort, please call or write your state legislator and thank him or her for supporting this important issue. If your elected officials in Arizona have not signed on to this legislation, please call or write asking them to do so immediately. The original cosponsors of HCM 2004 are Representatives David Bradley, Cheryl Chase, Ted Downing, Michele Reagan, Amanda Aguirre, Manuel Alvarez, Olivia Cajero Bedford, Ann Kirkpatrick, and Senators Jorge Garcia and Gabrielle Giffords.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: HCM 2004: Support Repealing the HEA Drug Provision

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

This week the Arizona General Assembly will consider a resolution, concurrent memorial HCM 2004, which if passed will call on Congress to repeal the Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision.

The Drug Provision is a federal law that denies eligibility for financial aid to anyone with a drug offense on his or her record, no matter how minor. Since taking effect in 2000, the Drug Provision has delayed or denied financial aid to more than 160,500 students.

I am writing to ask you to support this effort by cosponsoring HCM 2004 and voting "yes" when the resolution comes up for a vote later in the session. Denying eligibility for financial aid to a first-time drug offender is an overly harsh consequence for someone who has already been punished by the criminal justice system.

More importantly, an education is one of the best ways to combat problems associated with drug addiction. Drug abuse among young people is a problem that Arizona should take seriously, but denying financial aid opportunities to individuals with drug problems is a fundamentally flawed approach. Students seeking to improve their lives through education deserve a second chance and denying them access to funds for school only perpetuates the cycle of addiction they are trying to break.

I sincerely hope that you will support this important resolution and reopening the doors of opportunity for young people who have made past mistakes. I would greatly appreciate a response with your thoughts on this matter.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 22, 2005


Background Information

Added in 1998 as an amendment to the Higher Education Act (HEA), the Drug Provision (section 484(r)) excludes students with drug convictions from receiving financial aid to attend institutions of higher learning. The provision has had the effect of disqualifying a large number of deserving, low- to middle-income students from receiving federal aid to attend college for what are often relatively minor drug offenses, including misdemeanor marijuana possession. To date, more than 160,500 financial aid applicants have been ineligible for aid as a result of the Drug Provision. Senator John McCain, a leading Republican in the Senate, is one of the campaign's target Members for introducing a bill in the U.S. Senate that will fully repeal the Drug Provision. If the memorial passes, it will send a strong message to Senator McCain and urge him to deal with this important education issue this Congress.