AACC-ACCT Joint Legislative Agenda for the 111th Congress
Appropriations
- Provide increases to the Federal Pell Grant program
- Support major federal student aid programs
- Increase funding for vital institutional programs
- Increase the federal investment in career and technical education
and job training
Higher Education Act (HEA) Reauthorization Implementation
- Monitor the impact on campuses and students of compliance with the reauthorized HEA
- develop legislative proposals to address unanticipated consequences and undue administrative burdens
- Influence the Negotiated Rulemaking sessions that will develop regulations for all changes to the federal student financial assistance programs.
Veterans
- Support funding to help institutions serve the particular needs of students who are veterans.
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Reauthorization
- Create a competitive state grant program to facilitate the creation and expansion of early college high school initiatives.
- Make community colleges active participants in Title II, Part A Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Grants.
Using the Tax Code to Finance Higher Education
- Consolidate the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits and tuition deduction into one unified credit; expand overall benefits.
- Make higher education tax credits refundable and include non-tuition expenses.
DREAM Act
- Grant undocumented students that are long-time U.S. residents legal residency status and eliminate federal restrictions on states that wish to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students.
- Make DREAM Act students eligible for federal student financial assistance
STEM Competitiveness
- Include community colleges in efforts to bolster America’s competitiveness in STEM fields
- Enhance funding for the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program
Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization
- Establish the Community-Based Job Training Grants program
- Provide funding for training programs
Welfare Reform
- Support expansion of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program vocational education time limit
- Service Learning and Community Engagement
Service Learning and Community Engagement
- Increase funding for Learn and Serve America
Older Students
- Tailor federal programs to meet unique needs and preferences
- Help colleges provide life-long learning opportunities for the older segment of the population.