House and Senate staffers have begun "very preliminary" talks on Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization, according to Congress Daily. The last HEA extension expires on March 29, but a spokesperson from House Education Chairman George Miller's (D-CA) office says the goal is to complete the conference report in April.

The HEA hasn't been fully reauthorized since 1998. The House passed its version of HEA reauthorization bill - the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 (H.R. 4137) - earlier this month. The Senate reauthorization bill passed last summer. The two bills contain hundreds of differences that must be reconciled before the president can sign a final bill into law.

"These will be ongoing negotiations that already have begun between the two chambers," said NASFAA Director for Congressional Relations Larry Zaglaniczny. "We are engaged in this process and are optimistic that we'll make significant strides for students and financial aid administrators."

Staff continue work on developing the association's reauthorization positions for transmittal to the Congress.

Posted 02/27/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.