Repeal Legislation:
On March 9, 2005 Representative Barney Frank introduced the
Removing Impediments to Student Education (RISE) Act,
H.R.
1184 which, if enacted, would fully repeal the Higher
Education Act (HEA) Drug Provision. So far, it has gained
63 co-sponsors.
To commemorate the introduction of this important legislation
CHEAR hosted a press conference on Capitol Hill on March
10. At the conference, we had many Congressman and others
from supporting organizations speak. Find out all about
it on our Press Conference
page.
CHEAR is currently working to introduce a companion bill
in the Senate.
Other bills:
On February 14, 2005, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) introduced
S371, a higher education bill, that would repeal the Drug
Provision of the HEA, with the support of six co-sponsors.
Read it here. Refer to page 51 for
the Drug Provision (pdf).
Rep. John Conyers has also confirmed that he will be including
reentry legislation that includes a "judicial discretion"
amendment to the HEA Drug Provision. If enacted the change
would mean that the Drug Provision can only affect students
if mandated by a judge at sentencing. This is language that
CHEAR has been encouraging Congress to include in different
pieces of legislation for several months.
State Legislation:
CHEAR is also working with several state legislatures to
introduce resolutions calling on Congress to repeal the
Drug Provision or pass a bill that will de-link state financial
aid from the federal system so that victims of the Drug
Provision can still apply for state aid.