The federal law that denies student loans and other financial assistance to students convicted of drug law offenses is on the ropes -- and you can help us knock it out. Please call Congress today.

Congress reformed the law last year by eliminating the retroactive part of it, but it still affects tens of thousands of students. Fortunately, the U.S. Senate committee that handles education is considering completely repealing this counterproductive law. That’s where you come in.

You might be living in a state that has a senators on the committee (check the list below), and he or she needs to hear from constituents like you that this law should be overturned. Would you please take two minutes to make a phone call to your senator's office?

Here’s what you can do:

• Look at the list of states below to find your Senator.
• Call your Senator’s office and tell your Senator to repeal the HEA Drug Provision (talking points and background information are below).
• Forward this alert to your friends and family in your state.

Talking Points:

• My name is: (your name)
• I live in: (the city you live in)
• I am calling because I heard that the HELP Committee will soon be revising the Higher Education Act.
• I urge my Senator to repeal the section of the Higher Education Act that denies student loans to people convicted of drug offenses.
• This law perpetuates drug abuse by blocking access to education and economic opportunity.
• Thank you very much, and I would appreciate hearing how my Senator takes action on this issue.

List of Senators:

• Alaska 
  Senator Lisa Murkowki
  202-224-4654
• Colorado
  Senator Wayne Allard
  202-224-5941
• Connecticut
  Senator Christopher Dodd
  202-224-2823
• Georgia
  Senator Johnny Isakson
  202-224-3643
• Illinois
  Senator Barack Obama
  202-224-2854
• Iowa
  Senator Tom Harkin
  202-224-3254
• Kansas
  Senator Pat Roberts
  202-224-4774
• Maryland
  Senator Barbara Mikulski
  202-224-4654
• Massachusetts
  Senator Ted Kennedy
  202-224-4543
• New Hampshire
  Senator Judd Gregg
  202-224-3324
• New Mexico
  Senator Jeff Bingaman
  202-224-5521
• New York
  Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
  202-224-4451
• North Carolina
  Senator Richard Burr
  202-224-3154
• Ohio
  Senator Sherrod Brown
  202-224-2315
• Oklahoma
  Senator Tom Coburn
  202-224-5754
• Rhode Island
  Jack Reed
  202-224-4642
• Tennessee
  Senator Lamar Alexander
  202-224-4944
• Utah
  Senator Orrin Hatch
  202-224-5251
• Vermont
  Senator Bernard Sanders
  202-224-5141
• Washington
  Senator Patty Murray
  202-224-2621
• Wyoming
  Senator Michael Enzi
  202-224-3424

More Information:

In 1998 Congress amended the Higher Education Act to deny financial aid to people convicted of state or federal drug offenses (in some cases temporarily, in other cases for life). Since the law took effect in the fall of 2000, roughly 200,000 students have been denied aid. These young people, who have already been punished for their offenses, are now dropping out of school or reducing their course loads because they cannot afford the high cost of tuition.

Last year Congress limited the HEA Drug Provision to only those students convicted of a drug law offense while in college and receiving federal aid, ending the retroactive part of the law. Earlier this year the U.S House inserted a provision into legislation reauthorizing the Higher Education Act that would completely repeal the drug provision. Senators on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee will be considering similar legislation early next week. That legislation, however, doesn’t currently contain a repeal of the drug provision. There are negotiations behind the scenes to add it when the bill is taken up. Voters need to call their Senators on the Committee and urge them to add a full repeal of the HEA Drug Provision.

Thank you for all of your support!

Sincerely,

Bill Piper
Drug Policy Alliance