---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 11 Apr 1997 21:22:59 EDT
From: C <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list ACTNOW-L <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Student Aid Alert!!!

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Student Aid Update ######################### April 11, 1997

Bad new as Congress moves in the wrong direction on Student Aid


Since Congress has returned from the recess, there have been signs that
the nation's political leadership may once again be backing away from
support of student aid.

Back Room Budget Negotiations

Republican Leaders from Congress and members of the Administration have
been making so-called progress in the last few days. Within this back
room progress however, there is little certainty that student aid will be
treated in the same manner it would in the full light of day.

Over the last three years, our biggest victories have come on the Senate
floor, where we have pushed many amendments to capture bi-partisan support
for student aid. In the full light of day, we can be very successful in
forcing elected officials to vote for amendments that prioritize education
over corporate welfare. In the full light of day, we can also target the
programs that are most important and beneficial to students. This is not
the case with these back room negotiations.

Pell Grants

Both parties have talked about more support for the Pell Grant, and
President ClintonUs proposal for a $300 increase in the maximum Pell award
has gotten a great deal of attention. Unfortunately, budget leaders in
the House of Representatives who have been disgruntled with the progress
of ongoing budget negotiations are discussing budget proposals that would
freeze, or come close to a freeze, discretionary spending for next year.
This would be terrible news for programs like the Pell grant which would
stand little chance of even an inflationary increase under a freeze on
discretionary spending caps.

Tax proposals

Despite promises of nearly $40 billion in tax relief to support access to
higher education, both parties are moving to a more limited tax package
that could provide only minimal proposals for higher education. Several
sources on Capitol Hill have suggested that if the total tax cut package
is less that $100 billion over 5 years (including captial gains cuts and
more), there is little chance of any education targeted tax relief beyond
small proposals that could be considered window dressing.

####Take Action######

Students have only a limited time to have an impact on the overall
direction of budget negotiations. April 15th is the deadline for both the
House and the Senate to pass their FY98 budget resolution. Although they
will almost certainly miss this deadline, it demonstrates the urgent need
to make our voice heard.

PIRG, Rock The Vote and USSA have been joined by NAGPS, Hillel Foundation,
and the Center for Campus Organizing to circulate the following internet
petition on student aid. We will be launching the petition drive at a
news conference on Capitol Hill next week.

Sign the petition on the Web, and pass on the web address and e-mail
version of the petition to everyone you know. This is an urgent time for
Washington to hear about the strong support for student aid.



Ivan Frishberg, | Internet: [log in to unmask]
PIRG's Higher Education Project | Phone: (202) 546-9707
############################################################################


                USSA / PIRG / Rock The Vote
                    Student Aid Petition

The doors to a college education are being closed and students are being
driven in to decades of debt because of the failure of state and Federal
governments to adequately support access to higher education.

We demand that the White House and Congress act in a bi-partisan manner to
eliminate financial barriers to a college education.

Specifically, Congress should substantially increase Pell and other need
based grants, reduce the cost of student loans, and provide significant
tax relief to low and middle income students.

A college education is the best investment in AmericaUs future. Support
student aid and stop the doors of college from closing on AmericaUs
future.



First Name:
Last Name:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
School:
E-mail address:

########################################################################

You can either fill out the petition over the WWW, or
you can e-mail the petition to the address below. Forward this petition
to as many people as possible, pot it to newgroups and listserves.

Petition Web Address: www.pirg.org/student/aid/petition
E-mail Address: [log in to unmask]
For More Information: [log in to unmask]