The federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program means that kids in high-poverty schools receive cups of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, starting kids on what program boosters hope will be a lifelong habit of thinking of fresh produce as valid and delicious snacks. Who could possibly object to that? Lobbyists for the frozen, canned, and dried fruit industries. [More]
tom harkin
Deal To Keep The Government Running Cuts $303M From Pell Grant Program
By 12.10.14
Congress’ deal to keep the federal government up and running may be coming at the expense of some of the nation’s poorest prospective college students. The spending package is poised to cut $303 million from the Pell Grant program. [More]
Expected Bill Would Allow Private Student Loan Debt To Be Discharged In Bankruptcy
By 6.25.14
If at first you don’t succeed, try again with a more drastic measure. Just two weeks after a bill to allow private student loan borrowers to refinance at lower interest rates failed to gain traction in the Senate, a new bill expected to be introduced this week takes things a step farther. [More]
Proposed Bills Aim To Protect Students From Shady Deals Between Colleges, Banks
By 5.23.14
In recent years, the financial industry and higher education institutions have become increasingly comfortable bedfellows. From offering student IDs that act as debit cards to receiving payments for introducing credit cards to students, banks companies have crept their way onto college campuses. Now, a pair of bills introduced in the House and Senate aim to provide transparency over campus-sponsored financial products and put a stop to conflicts of interest and kickbacks between colleges and banks. [More]
Senators Continue Push To Ultimately Replace Dollar Bill With $1 Coin
By 6.6.13
In spite of decades of studies showing the long-term cost benefits of dollar coins over Federal Reserve Notes, and the fact that most of the world’s leading economies have already switched to coins for similar denominations, the U.S. has remained steadfast in its use of printed dollar bills. So once again, lawmakers in the Senate are making the push to gradually make the transition from print to mint. [More]
