HJ0023 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0023 LRB094 11568 HSS 42566 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, 20 United States Code section 1091(r) was added in 1998 as an amendment to the Higher Education Act; and

WHEREAS, This amendment excludes all students with any past drug conviction from receiving federal financial aid to attend institutions of higher learning; and

WHEREAS, This amendment makes no distinction between the age of the drug offense or the level of the drug offense; and

WHEREAS, This amendment precludes all prior convicted drug offenders from receiving financial aid for higher education while individuals convicted of rape, arson, or armed robbery are eligible for such aid; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Education statistics, 140,000 students have either been denied financial aid or stopped applying for aid as a result of this drug provision; and

WHEREAS, This federal provision has had the effect of punishing individuals who have already served criminal sentences and paid their fines and who are attempting to become productive citizens and taxpayers by obtaining higher education degrees; and

WHEREAS, The repeal of 20 United States Code section 1091(r) has the support and backing of more than seventy organizations around the country, including the National Education Association, the National Council for Higher Education, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge Congress and the President of the United States to take immediate steps to repeal 20 United States Code section 1091(r); and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation.