Durbin Commends Committee Approval of Higher Education Act Reauthorization

Press Release

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions has approved legislation, written by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) that would help protect student borrowers and provide better security on college campuses. Key provisions from two of Durbin's bills -- the Student Loan Sunshine Act and Campus Law Enforcement Emergency Act -- were included in the Higher Education Act reauthorization bill that was approved by committee and will now go to the Senate floor for consideration.

"We need to shine a bright light on the incentive-based relationships that exist between some universities and lenders," said Durbin. "This legislation takes an important step in requiring stricter standards for lenders and universities. We must make sure college students don't fall victim to unprincipled lenders."

The portion of the bill based on Durbin's Student Loan Sunshine Act aims to protect students and parents from exploitation by private lenders and lenders who offer gifts to colleges as a way to secure loan business. The Higher Education Act reauthorization bill would:

• Ban lenders from offering gifts worth more than a nominal amount to college financial aid office employees, including travel, lodging, entertainment, and in-kind services that lenders provide to college financial aid offices;

• Require full disclosure of the reasons why an institution of higher education has selected a lender for its "preferred lender" list, including any special arrangements the lender has with the school.

• Prohibit special arrangements that lenders and institutions of higher education have to offer loan products at the institution;

"After the terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech, it was clear that we need to address the vulnerability of students in college," said Durbin. "The language added to this bill will better protect college students and their families from threats to their security. I look forward to debating this bill on the Senate floor and will work toward its quick passage."

The portion of the bill based on Durbin's Campus Law Enforcement Emergency Response Act strengthens the safety and security of college and university campuses by requiring that each school develop and test emergency response procedures and testing of campus notification systems on at least an annual basis. Durbin's original legislation was cosponsored by Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and introduced in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy. The bill would:

• Require colleges and universities to develop and test procedures for responding to large-scale emergencies and dangerous incidents on their campuses, including procedures for promptly notifying the campus community in case of such emergencies;

• Permit the Secretary of Education and the Attorney General to combine their knowledge and resources in order to advise colleges and universities on model emergency response procedures and to disseminate best practices;

• Authorize the Department of Education to create a competitive grant program for colleges and universities to develop and improve their emergency response procedures and programs.

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