S. 570Senate108th Congress (2003-2005)Enacted

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to the qualifications of foreign schools.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

17 earlier actions

Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 108-98.

October 10, 2003

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 6, 2003

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

March 6, 2003

SenateCommittee

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9512)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

July 16, 2003

SenateDischarge

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9512)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

July 16, 2003

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S9512)

July 16, 2003

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

July 17, 2003

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

July 17, 2003 • 10:06 AM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

July 17, 2003

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.

Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee

August 13, 2003

HouseFloor

Mr. Boehner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

September 30, 2003 • 3:55 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8983-8985)

September 30, 2003 • 3:56 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 570.

September 30, 2003 • 3:56 PM

SenateFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H8984)

September 30, 2003 • 4:01 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H8984)

September 30, 2003 • 4:01 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

September 30, 2003 • 4:01 PM

President

Presented to President.

October 2, 2003

Became Law

Signed by President.

October 10, 2003

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 108-98.

October 10, 2003

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about S. 570 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. John A. BoehnerR-OH-8 · Sep 30, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 570) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to the qualifications of foreign schools. Mr. Speaker, I ask…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 570) to amend the Higher

Education Act of 1965 with respect to the qualifications of foreign schools.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 570.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Today I rise in support of the bill, S. 570. The legislation is very simple in its purpose. It will correct a drafting error made years ago during the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

When drafting the legislation in 1998, an amendment intended to extend eligibility to a for-profit veterinary school inadvertently removed the eligibility of not-for-profit and public foreign veterinary schools from participation in the Title IV Federal Family Education Loan Program. S. 570 corrects the problem by clarifying that the in- State clinical training requirement, intended only for for-profit institutions, does not apply to not-for-profit or public foreign institutions. These institutions still must meet all other statutory and regulatory requirements to be eligible for participation. S. 570 simply makes clear that not-for-profit and public foreign veterinary institutions need not have their approved clinical training take place in the United States.

The legislation is noncontroversial. It is bipartisan, and this error should be corrected immediately. Students are now feeling the effects of this glitch, and it is unfairly hindering students seeking to complete their education. As they return to school, they should not have studies thwarted by a legislative drafting error. The effects of this problem are being felt by several of my constituents, one specifically being Ms. Beverly Breeden, a resident of Celina, Ohio, and a veterinary student at the Royal Veterinary College in London. She is extremely concerned that she may not be able to complete her studies should this legislation not pass. She has worked hard, and I want to ensure that she is able to return to school in October and finish her studies.

So I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' today on S. 570 and allow students to complete their education and training without unintended interruptions.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Chris Van HollenD-MD-8 · Sep 30, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the chairman of the committee for bringing this bipartisan legislation to the floor of the House, and I am pleased to support this…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I thank the chairman of the committee for bringing this bipartisan legislation to the floor of the House, and I am pleased to support this amendment to the Higher Education Act which corrects the mistake that, as the chairman said, was made as part of the 1998 Higher Education Act reauthorization. We heard the story about the chairman's constituent. Many others studying abroad now find themselves in a similar predicament and unable to pay for college. Many more find themselves cut off after years of investment, both financial and personal, and face the prospect of having to abandon their dream of becoming a veterinarian.

Currently, there are only 27 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States offering approximately 2,300 slots to first-year students. In the year 2000, more than 6,700 students applied for one of these limited slots. Many highly qualified applicants were denied admission to school in the United States and had to look elsewhere to complete their training. At the same time, the demand for veterinarians across our Nation is very high. In 2001, the typical recent graduate averaged almost three job offers upon graduation.

Clearly, reputable foreign veterinarian medical colleges are key to supplying the growing demand for highly qualified veterinarians. S. 570 would correct the error we made in 1998 and restore the ability of students studying at foreign veterinary medical colleges to apply for and, if eligible, receive Pell grants, student loans, and other Federal aid.

Today, more than 150,000 U.S. citizens studying at foreign institutions of higher learning receive $250 million in Federal student aid. American students attending foreign veterinary schools should also have access to Federal grants and student loans.

This legislation will correct the misstep we made in 1998 and allow hundreds of students to complete their degrees and realize their dreams. It has bipartisan support; and like the chairman of the committee, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and ensure the fair treatment of all students.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back balance of my time.

Sen. Lamar AlexanderR-TN · Jul 16, 2003

I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee, be discharged from further consideration of S. 570 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent…

Bill Text

5 versions available

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF

Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 570 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

S.570

One Hundred Eighth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the seventh day of January, two thousand and three

An Act

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to the
qualifications of foreign schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FOREIGN SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY.

(a) In General.--Section 102(a)(2)(A) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)(2)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
``(A) In general.--For the purpose of qualifying as an
institution under paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary shall
establish criteria by regulation for the approval of
institutions outside the United States and for the
determination that such institutions are comparable to an
institution of higher education as defined in section 101
(except that a graduate medical school, or a veterinary school,
located outside the United States shall not be required to meet
the requirements of section 101(a)(4)). Such criteria shall
include a requirement that a student attending such school
outside the United States is ineligible for loans made,
insured, or guaranteed under part B of title IV unless--
``(i) in the case of a graduate medical school located
outside the United States--

``(I)(aa) at least 60 percent of those enrolled in,
and at least 60 percent of the graduates of, the
graduate medical school outside the United States were
not persons described in section 484(a)(5) in the year
preceding the year for which a student is seeking a
loan under part B of title IV; and
``(bb) at least 60 percent of the individuals who
were students or graduates of the graduate medical
school outside the United States or Canada (both
nationals of the United States and others) taking the
examinations administered by the Educational Commission
for Foreign Medical Graduates received a passing score
in the year preceding the year for which a student is
seeking a loan under part B of title IV; or
``(II) the institution has a clinical training
program that was approved by a State as of January 1,
1992; or

``(ii) in the case of a veterinary school located
outside the United States that does not meet the
requirements of section 101(a)(4), the institution's
students complete their clinical training at an approved
veterinary school located in the United States.''.
(b) Effective Date.--This Act and the amendments made by this Act
shall be effective as if enacted on October 1, 1998.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.