Law would let drug offenders recieve aid
Amendment would make student aid available to drug offenders.
Published Feb. 10, 2006
Previous drug offenders will be eligible to receive federal financial aid for higher education if President George Bush signs a new amendment to the Higher Education Act.
The amendment would allow students with past drug offenses to receive federal aid, according to a report by the Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform.
Amber Langston, former president of the MU chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said she was concerned the change would not help current students.
"It's a step in the right direction," Langston said. "It's a start to provide opportunity for persons who have been convicted of drug crimes, but it stops short of keeping officials from taking away the educational rights of students convicted while still in school."
Past drug offenders cannot receive aid from the federal government, and students in college at the time of a drug-related offense will lose federal aid under the current policy. The changes would not affect these students, who would still lose federal aid because of drug violations that occurred in school.
Chris Mulligan, a spokesman for CHEAR, expressed concerns about the legislation.
"We support this, but unfortunately it's just a step in the right direction," he said. "These kids have often paid the price not just in the justice system but also in their schools."
Since the Higher Education Act's drug policies went into effect in 2000, 180,000 students have had federal aid revoked, according to the report.
MU spokesman Christian Basi said this academic year, no students have lost federal aid because of drug offenses, but three students lost aid during the 2004-2005 school year and one student lost aid during the 2002-2003 school year.
The change is part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which was approved by the House of Representatives on Feb. 1. The bill has passed both houses of Congress and is waiting for Bush's approval.
According to Mulligan, though students with alcohol-related offenses and other violations on their records are able to receive federal financial aid, Mulligan said the government singles out students with drug offenses.
"The federal government really shouldn't be playing drug-war politics with federal financial aid," Mulligan said. "Congress has picked out a select group of offenders and taken away their opportunities, and that's just counterproductive."
Missouri's state financial aid is not dependent on previous drug offenses, according to the report.