AACS Members Secure Record Number of Signatures on Letter Seeking Restoration of ATB Student Access

In less than a week, 216 individual AACS school members generated over 1,202 messages to 100 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

As we have done in each of the four preceding years since access and eligibility for former Ability-to-Benefit students was repealed, AACS has worked with a coalition of likeminded advocates and their clients, seeking full restoration – or if necessary compromises short of full restoration, which would provide a fair and equitable solution for all students to regain the ability to pursue postsecondary education with the support of federal student financial assistance.  In years past, these efforts have resulted in varying levels of support, and the inclusion of a partial solution - championed by Senator Patty Murray – which targeted eligibility linked to "Eligible Career Pathways" programs.

As you know and the community know, after three plus years of seeking her amendment, Senator Murray was successful in having revisions to the HEA added back in which provides access for students participating in career pathways programs.  A positive step, but one which does not provide equity, as only approximately a dozen states have programs meeting the definitions established by the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services to provide the robust set of adult education and training services required to meet the definition.  (AACS and Ritzert-Leyton hosted a Webinar on this topic – archived on the AACSAction website.)

AACS and our partners goal is to build upon the recognition and incremental progress contained in the Murray Career Pathways revision to the statute by once again calling for additional modification through the annual appropriations process and must pass funding legislation AND/OR through revisions included in the pending reauthorization of HEA.  Regardless of the legislative vehicle, AACS and the GRC remain committed to restoring eligibility for this important student demographic as part of our comprehensive legislative strategy.

THE LIST OF CO-SIGNORS ON THE LETTER INCLUDE:

Chris Gibson

Eliot Engel

Charles Rangel 

Paul Tonko

Nydia Velasquez 

Danny K. Davis

Eleanor Holmes Norton

Peter DeFazio

Barbara Lee

Gregory W. Meeks

Brian Higgins

Kathleen M. Rice 

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Bobby L. Rush 

Jerrold Nadler

Albio Sires 

Frederica S. Wilson

Stephen F. Lynch 

Loretta Sanchez 

Tim Walz 

Suzan DelBene

Jim McDermott 

Pete King

Carlos Curbelo

Alcee L. Hastings 

Kyrsten Sinema 

Brenda Lawrence