For a year that began with great expectations, 2009 ended with many top higher education legislative goals unresolved as other pressing domestic issues dominated the headlines from Washington, D.C.
It seemed, says Dr. Antonio Flores, president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, that “health care had taken up most of the oxygen in the city.”
But there is hope for 2010, college and university leaders say, since it’s inevitable that Congress and President Barack Obama will turn to other domestic topics. High on the list for many advocates is final action on a comprehensive higher education investment bill, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA).
Yet, other domestic issues sure to get on the docket this year – such as job creation – also carry implications for colleges and universities.”Jobs are a new focus, and so work-force investment must be a priority,” Flores says.
As Congress and the president begin to outline a new-jobs plan, the issue likely will resonate with many sectors of higher education, particularly community colleges.”Because of the economic conditions in the country, federal investments in education need to increase,” he says.
Here is a look at other high-priority issues likely to get on Congress’ docket this year:
SAFRA: The bill would replace the bank-dependent Federal Family Education Loan program with Direct Loans, at a projected savings of $87 billion over 10 years. Congressional Democrats would redirect much of those savings to financial aid programs. Among other provisions, the bill would increase the maximum Pell Grant and index it to inflation; provide $3 billion for a college access and completion fund; allot $2.5 billion for minority-serving institutions over the next 10 years; and steer $9 billion toward community college initiatives.
