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

On March 2 members of the Rhode Island General Assembly introduced H 6134, a bill which if enacted will restore state aid and make up lost federal aid for students affected by the federal Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision, and call on Congress to repeal the 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 Rhode Island to express support for this important legislation. If you are represented by one of the cosponsors of H 6134, please call or write your state legislator and thank him or her. If your elected officials in Rhode Island have not signed on to this legislation, please call or write asking them to do so immediately. The original sponsors of H 6134 are Representatives Almeida, Diaz, and Slater.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: H 6134: Support education by repealing the Drug Provision

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

On March 2, members of the Rhode Island General Assembly introduced H 6134, a bill which if passed will call on Congress to repeal the Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision and provide state aid to eligible students who have been denied federal aid due to the law.

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. Currently, students in Rhode Island also lose eligibility for state aid because of past drug convictions even though there is no state law on the books.

I am writing to ask you to support this effort by cosponsoring and supporting H 6134. 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 Rhode Islanders should take seriously, but denying financial aid opportunities to individuals with drug problems is a fundamentally flawed approach.

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

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 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 Lincoln Chafee, a Republican Senator from Rhode Island, is one of the campaign's target Members for introducing a bill in the U.S. Senate that will fully repeal the Drug Provision.

On March 2 members of the Rhode Island General Assembly introduced H 6134, a bill which if enacted will restore state aid and make up lost federal aid for students affected by the federal Higher Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision, and call on Congress to repeal the Drug Provision. Enactment of H 6134 into law will send a strong message encouraging Senator Chafee to take the lead in the Senate for repeal of the Drug Provision. The Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform (CHEAR) is asking supporters to contact their elected officials in Rhode Island to express support for this important legislation. If you are represented by one of the cosponsors of H 6134, please call or write your state legislator and thank him or her. If your elected officials in Rhode Island have not signed on to this legislation, please call or write asking them to do so immediately. The original sponsors of H 6134 are Representatives Almeida, Diaz, and Slater.