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DRCNet Needs You to Write Congress
Since the Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision took effect in 2000, more than 160,500 students have been delayed or denied financial aid because of drug convictions. On March 9, 2005, 56 members of the United States House of Representatives introduced the Removing Impediments to Students' Education (RISE) Act, which if passed into law will fully repeal the federal aid ban for individuals with drug convictions. Visit http://www.RaiseYourVoice.com for further information on how to get involved in this important effort.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Repeal the HEA Drug Provision
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Please support repeal of the Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision, a law that since taking effect in 2000 has delayed or denied aid to more than 160,500 students with past drug convictions. I am asking you to cosponsor the Removing Impediments to Students' Education (RISE) Act, H.R. 1184, in the 109th Congress and fully repeal the HEA Drug Provision. On March 9, the RISE Act was introduced in the U.S. Congress with 56 co-sponsors.
Earlier this year the Congressionally-appointed Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, a bipartisan commission tasked with examining ways to simplify the financial aid process, called on Congress to repeal the HEA Drug Provision. The report calls the question about drug convictions on the FAFSA form "irrelevant," and asserts that it "... add(s) complexity to the form and can deter some students from applying for financial aid."
The HEA drug provision is troubling for numerous reasons:
* It is economically discriminatory and only affects the children of low- and middle-income families who rely on student loans, federal work-study programs, Pell Grants, and other forms of aid to help finance their educations.
* It is inappropriate to punish people twice for the same offense. Individuals with drug convictions are already punished by the criminal justice system and oftentimes their school as well.
* Judges already have the discretion to deny federal benefits to those convicted in their courts.
* Studies have shown that those convicted of crimes are far less likely to be re-arrested after receiving two years of postsecondary education and that students who leave school after their first year have a dramatically reduced return rate.
President Bush has said that "America is the land of the second chance." I ask you to embrace that message by working to ensure that Congress corrects the mistake it made in 1998. Please cosponsor and support legislation in the 109th Congress that will fully repeal the HEA Drug Provision.
Thank you in advance for your attention on this important issue, and I would certainly appreciate a response with your thoughts.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
March 03, 2005
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The Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision delays or denies eligibility for federal financial aid for any drug conviction, even first-time marijuana possession. Since taking effect in 2000, more than 160,500 students have been harmed by this misguided law. On March 9, 2005, Rep. Barney Frank, along with 55 other members of Congress, introduced the RISE Act (Removing Impediments to Students' Education), H.R. 1184; and on March 10 the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR) held a press conference in the US Capitol to call for the law's repeal. Recently the Congressionally-appointed Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance called for repeal of the drug provision in its recommendations for simplifying the financial aid process.
PLEASE VISIT http://www.raiseyourvoice.com to write your Reps online, and also please call your Representatives directly -- you can use the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or email us at heareform@raiseyourvoice.com and we'll send you their contact info -- and urge them to sponsor legislation to repeal the HEA Drug Provision.
BACKGROUND: Added in 1998 as an amendment to the Higher Education Act (HEA), the "drug provision" (section 484(r), or 20 USC 1091(r)) excludes students with drug convictions from receiving federal 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.
KEEP US INFORMED: When you send your letters or faxes, please send us a copy. In addition, when you receive a response, please pass it along to us, as it is quite helpful in gauging legislators' positions by their responses to your letters, faxes, and personal meetings. This helps us to be more effective in our advocacy by tailoring our message to their individual concerns. For more information on the HEA Drug Provision and how to become active in the campaign to repeal it, please visit http://www.raiseyourvoice.com online. For further suggestions on talking points or strategy, please contact Chris Mulligan by e-mail at cmulligan@raiseyourvoice.com or by phone at (202) 293-8340.
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