Pubdate: Wed, 20 Jul 2005 Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) Copyright: 2005 Richmond Newspapers Inc. Contact: http://www.timesdispatch.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/365 Author: Sean Mussenden Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/hea.htm (Higher Education Act) U.S. MAY NOT JUST SAY NO TO COLLEGE LOANS Panel Is Expected To Advance The Repeal Of A Law Preventing Drug Offenders From Borrowing James Johnson's three convictions for possession of crack cocaine and marijuana disqualify him for a taxpayer-backed student loan under federal law. But Johnson, 27, insists his drug days are behind him and he desperately needs a loan to pay for his education at the community college near his home in Ruffin, N.C. His dream now is to be a filmmaker. "It's not fair," he said. "Some of us are honestly trying to get our lives together, and we need financial help. Past is past. You should be able to put your past behind you and move on." Seven years after passing a law that critics charge blocked college aid to more than 150,000 people convicted of drug offenses, Congress appears poised to repeal some of its stricter provisions. The measure, part of a broad package of laws dealing with higher education, must pass the full House and Senate and be signed into law by President Bush before taking effect. Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., was instrumental in passing the original law and is leading the charge to retool it. He said through a spokesman that he never intended to block aid to people who committed drug crimes before entering college. The Department of Education, which oversees federal student loan applications, has misinterpreted it, spokesman Martin Green said. The proposed change would not affect financial-aid restrictions imposed on students who are convicted of drug crimes while in college. Those restrictions make sense because they discourage kids from using drugs, Green said. Besides, "students who receive taxpayer dollars to go to college have a responsibility to obey the law, even if it's a law with which they do not agree," he said. Critics of the original law say there is no evidence that a small warning on a financial-aid application -- which many parents complete for their children -- discourages drug use. Rep. Robert E. Andrews, D-N.J., said that Congress' goal should be to transform drug users into productive citizens. The best way to do that is to ensure access to education, not take it away, he said. IMPACT Today, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce is expected to approve a measure that would remove student loan barriers for people who were convicted of drug offenses before they started college. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin