Second Higher Education Extension Act of 2007

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1868) to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may insert materials relevant to S. 1868 into the Record.

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

(Mr. HINOJOSA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1868, a bill to extend the Higher Education Act through October 31, 2007.

This bill is very straightforward. It simply extends the current programs authorized under the Higher Education Act until October 31, 2007, giving us the time to fully consider and complete the reauthorization before us in the 110th Congress.

We are making progress. We have passed a historic investment in student financial aid in the College Cost Reduction Act. We have also laid the groundwork to reauthorize the other core higher education programs, including teacher preparation, developing and strengthening institutions, college readiness and outreach programs, including international education, graduate education and others. We put out a call for recommendations and received over 85 responses from individuals, organizations, and coalitions from across the Nation. We hear them loud and clear.

I am looking forward to working with all of my colleagues in the House to produce a strong reauthorization of the Higher Education Act that will earn broad support.

I would like to thank Congressman McKeon, ranking member of the full committee, and Congressman Ric Keller, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness, as well as our chairman, George Miller, for working together with me to expedite this extension.

I respectfully urge all my colleagues to pass this legislation overwhelmingly.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Kuhl from New York for his positive remarks on S. 1868, and together we are going to ask that our colleagues join us and pass this legislation overwhelmingly.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, for the last several years my colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee have worked to renew, and indeed improve, the Higher Education Act.

Last Congress, we passed H.R. 609, the College Access and Opportunity Act, which made important reforms to the Pell Grant program, the Perkins loan program, and provided more accountability in the area of college costs. Unfortunately, the Senate was not able to act, and the legislation died.

This Congress, the House has passed the reforms to address some of the problems that have arisen in the student loan industry and has passed legislation that made changes to the mandatory spending programs under the Higher Education Act through the reconciliation process. As of yesterday, the Senate has passed both the reconciliation bill and the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill.

The latest extension of the Higher Education Act expires on July 31, 2007. Today, we are passing another extension through October 31, 2007. It is my hope that the House will soon renew the remaining Higher Education Act, but in the meantime Congress must once again act to extend this bill, which we have done so previously on several occasions with bipartisan support. So today I rise in support of legislation to do so once again.

S. 1868, the second Higher Education Act of 2007, will ensure that vital Federal college access and student aid programs continue, I repeat continue, to serve those students who depend upon them. This legislation extends the Higher Education Act for a brief time, just 3 months. At the same time, S. 1868 also gives Congress additional time to complete a review of the remaining higher education programs as well.

Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill before us today and work with us in the coming months to complete a fundamental reform package so that we can better serve the American students pursuing a college education.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 1868 introduced earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.