The Senate and House passed a one-month extension of the Higher Education Act (HEA) yesterday. With the Congressional Memorial Day recess fast approaching and Senate education committee chairman Edward Kennedy (D-MA) hospitalized, it appears that negotiators will be unable to complete a compromise bill from the Senate and House's two HEA reauthorization bills.

President Bush must now sign the extension (S. 3035), which would authorize Title IV programs through June 30.

Congressional Quarterly reported that House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA) indicated that negotiators have "less than a handful of issues" to compromise on before completing a final HEA bill.

A provision that requires schools to certify private loans and that would penalize states for failing to make an adequate investment in higher education are reportedly two of the issues still being negotiated.

By Haley Chitty
NASFAA Assistant Director of Communications

Posted 05/21/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.