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School-based Loan Forgiveness |
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Friday, 15 July 2005 |
Victory! House Subcommittee Approves Loan Forgiveness for School-Based SLPs
A House education subcommittee, reauthorizing the Higher Education Act (HEA), has identified school-based speech-language pathologists as a profession of national need. H.R. 609, The College Access & Opportunity Act, includes a provision that would allow school-based SLPs to apply for up to $5,000 in student loan forgiveness. This HEA reauthorization bill was approved by the subcommittee, as amended, and is expected to be considered by the full Education & Workforce Committee during the week of July 18th.
Setting the precedent of recognizing school-based SLPs as a profession of national need under HEA has been one of the top objectives of ASHA's 2005 Public Policy Agenda. ASHA lobbyists will continue to work with House and Senate leaders to promote other measures within HEA to help recruit and retain SLPs in schools.
ASHA would like to thank Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) for sponsoring and promoting passage of H.R. 670, a bill that would extend loan forgiveness to school-based SLPs, and Representatives Jon Porter (R-NV) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) who offered an amendment to H.R. 609 that was based on the Wilson bill. Also, ASHA would like to thank House Education, the Workforce chairman, John Boehner (R-OH), and subcommittee chair, Howard "Buck" McKeon. Additional information on H.R. 609 and the loan forgiveness provision will be provided after consideration by the full committee. For more information, please contact Neil Snyder, ASHA's Director of Federal Advocacy, via email at nsnyder@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4257. |
