Federal Political News

Committee on Education and Labor- Higher Education News

- Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009
   
Introduced on July 15th, 2009 by Representative George Miller of California. If signed into law, the Student Aid and
    Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) would:
        - Increase the Pell Grant to $40 billion over ten years
        - Invest $3 billion to increase college access and post-degree completion programs
        - Simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which would increase accessibility to financial aid
        - 100% direct lending for all Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), which would be administered by the
           Department of Education and serviced by not for profit state agencies
        - Increase the Perkins Loan Program to $6 billion per year
        - Maintain low interest rates on subsidized federal student loans

- Post- 9/11 GI Bill
    Provides financial support for education and housing to those who served at least 90 days of active duty on or after
    September 11, 2001 or those discharged with a service-related disability after 30 days. This bill is effective on August 1,
    2009 and the amount of individual support is a percentage dependent on the amount of active duty served. For more
    information, go to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website.