[The following letter supporting H.R. 1412, the "HEROES Act," was sent to House Members by the American Council on Education on behalf of 15 organizations, including NASFAA. NASFAA had previously endorsed
passage of the act in a letter to the Chairman of the House Education & the Workforce Committee.]
March 31, 2003
Re: Support for H.R. 1412 – the HEROES Act
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the higher education associations listed below, I write to enthusiastically
endorse the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003
(H.R. 1412) or "HEROES Act." We understand that this bill will
come up for consideration under the suspension calendar on Tuesday, April 1,
and we ask that you vote to approve this important legislation.
Thousands of men and women in the United States Reserves, National Guard and
armed forces, currently enrolled at an institution of higher education, have
or will be called up to assist with current operations in Iraq and/or national
security activities around the country. This legislation gives the Secretary
of Education broad authority to revise federal financial aid laws or regulations
that would impose a hardship on servicemembers or that might limit their re-entry
into higher education at the conclusion of military service. In addition, the
legislation encourages schools to be flexible with respect to tuition refunds
and the granting of academic credit. Finally, the bill will do this without
imposing new government regulations. This means that the impact of the law
will be felt immediately and colleges will be spared additional regulatory
costs.
We have already encouraged all college and university leaders to show flexibility
to ensure that no servicemember suffers a loss of funds or educational opportunity
as a result of military service. It has been my experience—and that of
my colleagues—that virtually all of our institutions are being exceedingly
generous in their policies regarding service members. Providing the U.S. Secretary
of Education waiver authority for provisions related to Title IV funding, as
directed in H.R. 1412, will provide additional assurances to these students
that they will be treated in a fair and responsible way.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
David Ward
President
On behalf of:
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers
American Association of Community Colleges
American Association of State Colleges and Universities
American Council on Education
Association of American Universities
Association of Community College Trustees
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities
Council for Opportunity in Education
Council of Graduate Schools
National Association of College and University Business Officers
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
State PIRGs' Higher Education Project
United States Student Association
Posted April 2, 2003 on www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
Please submit Web Site questions or comments to web@nasfaa.org
