Washington, D.C.-- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a Higher Education bill which Congressman Frank Lucas calls a "win for education and for students alike."

The bill, HR 6, amends the 1965 Higher Education Act to reauthorize several existing programs that provide federal aid to students and institutions of higher learning, authorizes some new programs, and repeals several current unfunded programs.

The legislation focuses on expanding postsecondary education opportunities for low-income students and increasing the affordability of postsecondary education for many deserving moderate income families. It also resolves a current controversy over the cut in interest rates on student loans that is scheduled for July 1, 1998, by establishing a new interest rate formula for new student loans.

"I'm proud of this legislation, which will empower those deserving students who desire to advance their educational opportunities, but would otherwise be prohibited from doing so," said Lucas. AWe have also raised the bar on the standards for those charged with delivering the finest education possible to our children.

"This is a winning combination," he concluded.

Among other things, HR 6:

• increases the maximum Pell Grant award from its current level of $3,000 to $4,500 for the next school year, and to $5,300 for the 2003-2004school year;
• establishes a new performance-based organization to administer federal student aid programs;
• establishes Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants, competitive grants offered to states to be used to improve the quality of teachers;
• authorizes new programs to strengthen the quality of elementary and secondary teachers; and,
• eliminates Title IV student aid eligilbility for convicted drug felons.

"I believe this last provision is a vital component of this legislation," Lucas said. AFor too long, your federal government has -- wittingly or not -- subsidized and rewarded aberrant and illegal behavior in many of its social and educational programs.

"There is no sense in rewarding student felons with your tax dollars, no matter what program is involved. This is a good beginning of the end of this practice."

HR 6 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 414 - 4 late Tuesday evening.