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Bishop, Kline Applaud Passage of the Higher Education Extension Act of 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 28, 2015
The House of Representatives today approved H.R. 3594, the Higher Education Extension Act of 2015. Introduced by Reps. Mike Bishop (R-MI) and Mark Pocan (D-WI), members of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, this legislation extends for one year the Perkins Loan Program that is set to expire on September 30, as well as other higher education provisions scheduled to sunset at the end of the month. The bipartisan proposal delivers certainty to students and institutions as policymakers continue work on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

“The Perkins Loan Program allows students in severe financial need to make their college goals a reality – and allowing that aid to expire this week is not an option,” Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI) said. “By supporting this responsible, bipartisan legislation today, we will deliver certainty to students and institutions as we continue to work on higher education reauthorization in the weeks ahead. I applaud my House colleagues for supporting the Higher Education Extension Act before this critical student aid program expires.”

“Higher education can play a vital role in lifting people out of poverty and setting them on the pathway to success,” Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) said. “That’s why improving higher education remains one of our leading priorities. As we continue our broader effort to strengthen higher education, this bipartisan proposal will extend existing support for students and the colleges and universities that serve them. I want to thank Representatives Bishop and Pocan for leading this bipartisan effort.”

HIGHER EDUCATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2015 (H.R. 3594):
  • Extends through Fiscal Year 2016 the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity and the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance;
  • Extends through Fiscal Year 2016 the Perkins Loan Program, allowing participating colleges and universities to continue serving new borrowers;
  • Reforms the Perkins Loan Program to ensure the legislation is fully paid for at no additional cost to taxpayers; and
  • Allows students who receive a Perkins loan during the 2015-2016 academic year and remain in the same academic program to be eligible to receive those funds through March 31, 2018.

To learn more about the Higher Education Extension Act of 2015, click here.

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