Lani's Message to Congress

"As a recent college graduate, I understand the struggles of earning a degree. With tuition rising every year, along with the miscellaneous costs of attending college (textbooks, supplies, etc) and the overall cost of living, just getting by is hard enough. For potential or current students who face a drug conviction, the burdens of overcoming legal and personal struggles associated with using or dealing drugs can be overwhelming. While some with drug convictions belong behind bars, far more are relatively normal people with relatively normal aspirations for their lives.

Many with drug convictions do not have substantial financial resources to independently fund their higher education. For those who want tomove past their drug problems and continue their pursuit of a degree, many need financial aid -- financial aid that is no longer available,thanks to the aid elimination penalty amendment to the Higher Education Act (1998).

As your constituent, I urge you to reconsider the logic behind creating obstacles for higher education for students with drug convictions -- does this not further condemn them to a life of drug use/dealing? There are already minimum GPA requirements for financial-aid, so blocking aid only affects students who are doing well in their classes. Why would we discourage at-risk students from staying in school?

College graduates are much more likely to become successful tax-paying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs. Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse. Education is one of our society's greatest tools of reform; without an education, how can we expect anyone to achieve greatness?

I urge you to support the Removing Impediments to Students' Education(RISE) Act, sponsored in the House by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), whichwould repeal the aid elimination penalty and help hard-working and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success. Last Congress, the bill had more than 70 House co-sponsors. Even Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility.

Thank you for your attention in this matter; I look forward to your response."

--Lani Ogle

Tell Congress to help people like Lani: http://capwiz.com/mobilize/issues/alert/?alertid=9063991&type=CO