Senate Denies Renewal of Perkins Loan for Higher Education

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You’ll be able to choose posts from these categories:</p> <p>Analysis and Commentary   –   Legislative Recap   –   Legislative Preview   –   News About GovTrack   –   Using GovTrack Tips</p> <p><a href="/accounts/lists" class="btn btn-primary">Sign Up »</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md"> <p> Oct 6, 2015 </p> <p>Renewed almost without question since establishment in 1958, the Federal Perkins Loan Program — providing loans that aid payment in higher education — was unexpectedly allowed to lapse on September 30, 2015. Perkins is reported as the “<a href="http://www.educationdive.com/news/perkins-loan-program-dies-as-alexander-blocks-funding-bill/406660/">government’s oldest student loan program</a>.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr3594">H.R. 3594</a>, which would have renewed the loans program, passed the House but failed to be brought to the floor in the Senate. The defeat <a href="http://www.educationdive.com/news/perkins-loan-program-dies-as-alexander-blocks-funding-bill/406660/">is accredited to</a> <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/lamar_alexander/300002">Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)</a> who has regularly expressed the belief that specifically eliminating the Perkins Loan could streamline the government’s student loan programs.</p> <p>Alexander was elected as chair of the Senate Health, Education and Labor committee in January 2015 and immediately <a href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4521664/fafsa-discussion-senate-floor">pointed out </a>why such streamlining is necessary. About half of the 20 million American families with students in college, <a href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4521664/fafsa-discussion-senate-floor">he said </a>on the Senate floor, “have a federal grant or loan to help pay for college.” The problem, he said, is that the “Federal application form for grants and loans for colleges is 108 questions.”</p> <p>That’s why, Alexander continued, at another committee meeting over a year ago he was impressed upon hearing “four witnesses say we only needed two questions to <a href="http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4521664/fafsa-discussion-senate-floor">answer 95% of the information </a>we needed to know,” to make a student grant or loan feasible. Instead of the Perkins Loan, Alexander proposed the two-question application recommended known as “Fast Track” in <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s108">S. 108</a>.</p> <p>With the Senate defeat, Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI8), sponsor of the Perkins renewal bill, said in a press release, “<a href="https://mikebishop.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bishop-comments-perkins-legislation-blocked-senate">Congress should be making it easier</a>, not harder, for students to make their college goals a reality. That includes making college more affordable and simplifying our financial aid system for every American.”</p> </div> </div> <hr> <p> Let us know what you think about these updates by tooting us on <a rel="me" href="https://mastodon.social/@GovTrack" title="Mastodon"><i class="fab fa-mastodon"></i> Mastodon</a> or <a href="/contact" style="text-decoration: none"><i class="fas fa-envelope"></i> sending us an email</a>. </p> </div> </div>  </div>  <footer id="footer"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <nav class="col-6 col-md-2"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/about">About GovTrack</a></li> <li><a href="/about-our-data">About the Data</a></li> <li><a href="/contact">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/legal">Privacy & Legal</a></li> </ul> </nav> <nav class="col-6 col-md-2"> <ul> <li><a href="/posts/news"><i class="fas fa-list fa-fw"></i>Site News</a></li> <li><a rel="me" href="https://mastodon.social/@GovTrack"><i class="fab fa-mastodon fa-fw"></i>Mastodon</a></li> <li><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/govtrack.us"><i class="fab fa-bluesky fa-fw"></i>Bluesky</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/govtrack"><i class="fas fa-dollar-sign fa-fw"></i><span>Patreon</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/govtrack"><i class="fab fa-github fa-fw"></i><span>GitHub</span></a></li> </ul> </nav> <section class="col-12 col-md-8"> <p>GovTrack helps everyone learn about and track the activities of the United States Congress. 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Senate Denies Renewal of Perkins Loan for Higher Education - GovTrack.us