House+Bill+Number+4046

=media type="file" key="House Bill 4046.mp3"= =**Bill # H.R. 4046 (Abigail V.)**=

Student Disability Fairness Act-
Amends the [|Higher Education Act of 1965]to require the Secretary of Education to accept certifications by the Department of Veterans Affairs that student borrowers are permanently and totally disabled as sufficient documentation for the discharge of their loans under part B ([|Federal Family Education Loan Program.)]

Original Sponsor: Jason Altmire (D-PA 4th) media type="youtube" key="UBv1Ztpznak" height="344" width="425" (Jason Altmire commercial posted August 28, 2008)

This bill has two cosponsors, one Democrat and one Republican

According to Jason Altmire the original sponsor of the bill, The Student Disability Fairness Act would require the Department of Education to accept certifications of total and permanent disability from the Department of Veterans' Affairs for the purpose of student loan cancellation. With completion of the House Education and Labor Committee's markup of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act[|(H.R. 4137)] So basically this  law was intended “to strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in postsecondary and higher education.”  History

Why on earth was the Higher Education Act of 1965 even made?  As we all know, in 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson was president and that he is known for "The Great Scociety". The Great Scociety was a set of domestic programs on the initiative of Johnson. The main goals of The Great Scociety social reforms were the elimination of poverty and of racial injustice. Major spending programs having to do with education, transportation, medical care, and urban problems were launched at this time. So what does the Great Scociety have to do with the Higher Education Act of 1965? Simple. It was legislation signed into law on November 8, 1965 as apart of Lyndon B. Johnson's domestic agenda. How does The Student Disablilty Fairness Act ammend the Higher Education act of 1965? it is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: `In making such determination of permanent and total disability, the Secretary shall provide that a borrower who has been certified as permanently and totally disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs shall not be required to present further documentation for purposes of this title.'.  I am not a scholar and do not know what this means: This basicaly means that if you are in the army and are permanently disabled and therefore have to become a Veteran, the Department of Education cannot question it. So you, a disabled veteran, can go get a higher education (college) with loans that make it practically free.

Why on earth should this bill be passed?


 * Bibliography:**

 CitizensforAltmire. “Jason Altmire’s first TV commercial - ‘Stepped.’” __YouTube__. 28 Aug. 2008. 8 Dec. 2008 . this is a video from YouTube  “Committee Adopts Altmire Amendment to Help Colleges Meet Emerging Work Force Needs.” __Congressman Jason Altmire__. 5 Dec. 2008 .  __Higher Education Act of 1965, 1998 Higher Education Act Amendments__. 8 Dec. 2008 . This is the Higher Education Act of 1965 which is what the Student Disability Act revises  “Purpose.” __FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN (FFEL) PROGRAM__. 10 Sept. 2008. U.S. Department of Education. 9 Dec. 2008 <http://www.ed.gov/‌programs/‌ffel/‌index.html>. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> “Text of H.R. 4046: Student Disability Fairness Act.” __GovtTracks.us__. 2008. GovTrack. 10 Dec. 2008 <http://www.govtrack.us/‌congress/‌billtext.xpd?bill=h110-4046>. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Wadsworth, Harrison M. __Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965__. 8 Feb. 2003. U.S. Department of Education. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://www.ed.gov/‌policy/‌highered/‌reg/‌hearulemaking/‌2002/‌reauthhearing/‌e-wadsworth-supporting1.html>.