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United States Student Association (USSA)

United States Student Association (USSA). National Association of State Student Grant & Aid Programs (NASSGAP) 2004 Spring Conference Presentation. Ajita Talwalker, Vice President, USSA. About USSA.

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United States Student Association (USSA)

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  1. United States Student Association(USSA) National Association of State Student Grant & Aid Programs (NASSGAP) 2004 Spring Conference Presentation Ajita Talwalker, Vice President, USSA

  2. About USSA • Nation’s oldest and largest national student association representing over a million students • Tracks and lobbies federal legislation and policy • Trains and organizes students from across the country to win concrete victories on their campuses • Represents students in national coalitions

  3. USSA Believes… • Education is a right! • Access to education should never be denied on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability or class status • Investing in education is sound public policy • We must work to expand access for future generations

  4. USSA Programs • National Action Agenda Campaigns • Grassroots Legislative Conference • National Student Congress • Regions, Caucuses and Affiliates • Materials

  5. GrassRoots Organizing Weekends (GROW) • Electoral Action Trainings (EAT) • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Student Empowerment Project (LGBTSEP) • Student of Color Campus Diversity Project (SOCCDP) • Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) • Student Vote 2004: The Movement at the Ballot Box USSA Foundation Programs

  6. 2003-2004 Action Agenda • Elections 2004 • Fighting for Immigrant Rights to Education • Higher Education Act Reauthorization/Appropriations

  7. Elections 2004 • Breaking the cycle of neglect • Non-partisan, issue-based voter registration, education and mobilization • 20 campus vote sites across the country with paid campus organizers • National Student Vote Conference • Electoral Action Trainings • Materials including organizing manuals and a voter guide on the issues students care about!

  8. Fighting for Immigrant Rights to Education • DREAM Act/Student Adjustment Act • Permanent Partner Immigration Act • Employee Free Choice Act • Student Exchange Visitor Information Act (SEVIS)

  9. Higher Education Act Reauthorization • Strengthening grant programs and making loan programs less costly to students • Strengthening services and programs for low-income and disadvantaged students • Protecting all early intervention programs • Protecting campus communities against violence

  10. USSA HEA Proposals THE GREAT GRANT/LOAN IMBALANCE • 30 years ago 70% financial aid in the form of grants, 30% in the form of loans • Today, figures are almost reversed • 70% of financial aid in the form of loans, 22% percent in the form of grants

  11. HEA: Grants and Loans • GRANTS • Pell Grant Program • Graduate Student Scholarships & Fellowships • LOANS • Loan Limits • Origination Fees • Loan Forgiveness

  12. HEA: Access • Drug-Related Suspension of Financial Aid • 128,951 students denied financial aid due to a drug convention • Child Care Access • Support for student parents

  13. HEA: Preservation • Campus Safety Provision • Preserve strong campus safety measure • GEAR UP • Increase funding and maintain its autonomy • Voter Registration • Keep this important provision

  14. The Current HEA Bill • House Resolution 4283 the College Access and Opportunity Act of 2004. • Some helpful provisions, but • Overall, USSA Opposes the Bill

  15. H.R. 4283: Missed Opportunity • Good Things: • Retains current cumulative loan limits • Reduces student loan tax (origination fee) from 3% to 1% • Reduces excessive lender profits • Problematic Things: • Fails to raise maximum Pell • Eliminates low-fixed rate consolidation • Raises cap on student loan interest rates • Includes so-called “Academic Bill of Rights” • Fails to include full repeal of drug provision • 90-10 Rule

  16. FY 05 Appropriations • USSA urges Congress to: • Increase the maximum Pell grant by $450 to $4500 • Increase SEOG by $230 million to $1 billion • Increase LEAP by $34 million to $100 million • Increase Federal Work Study by $152 million to $1.15 billion. • Increase Graduate Grant Aid • GAANN $50 million • Javits $17 million • Thurgood Marshal $6 million • Increase GEAR UP by $202 million to $500 million • Increase CAMPIS by $19 million to $35 million • Increase TRIO by $50 million to $883 million

  17. Questions Email vp@usstudents.org Phone 202-347-8772

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