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HJ0023 |
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LRB094 11568 HSS 42566 r |
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| HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, 20 United States Code section 1091(r) was added in |
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| 1998 as an amendment to the Higher Education Act; and
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| WHEREAS, This amendment excludes all students with any past |
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| drug conviction from receiving federal financial aid to attend |
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| institutions of higher learning; and
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| WHEREAS, This amendment makes no distinction between the |
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| age of the drug offense or the level of the drug offense; and
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| WHEREAS, This amendment precludes all prior convicted drug |
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| offenders from receiving financial aid for higher education |
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| while individuals convicted of rape, arson, or armed robbery |
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| are eligible for such aid; and
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| WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of |
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| Education statistics, 140,000 students have either been denied |
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| financial aid or stopped applying for aid as a result of this |
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| drug provision; and
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| WHEREAS, This federal provision has had the effect of |
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| punishing individuals who have already served criminal |
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| sentences and paid their fines and who are attempting to become |
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| productive citizens and taxpayers by obtaining higher |
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| education degrees; and
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| WHEREAS, The repeal of 20 United States Code section |
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| 1091(r) has the support and backing of more than seventy |
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| organizations around the country, including the National |
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| Education Association, the National Council for Higher |
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| Education, the American Federation of Teachers, the National |
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| Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the |
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| National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; |
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| therefore, be it
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