Fact: The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act (HR 1586) recently passed by the House provided $10 billion in funding for states to create or retain teacher jobs. In Iowa, it is estimated that this legislation will keep 1,800 teachers in the classroom for the 2010-2011 school year. Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation; Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”
Fact: The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (HR 4247) which ensures that reasonable and appropriate measures are used in dealing with students. This legislation protects the safety of children by preventing inappropriate restraint and seclusion through the establishment of minimum safety standards in schools, similar to protections already in place in hospitals and non-medical community-based facilities. Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation; Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”
Fact: The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facility Act (HR 2187) requires the Secretary of Education to make grants to states for the modernization, renovation, or repair of public schools, including early learning facilities and charter schools, to make them safe, healthy, high-performing, and technologically up-to-date. Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation; Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”
Fact: The Student Aid Program Modifications Act of 2009 (HR 3221) aimed at increasing the availability of low-interest loans for post-secondary education. Some of the provisions of this legislation include:
- Establishes the Federal Direct Perkins Loan Program with a $6 billion loan authority and loans being made at 5% interest rate.
- Appropriates $2.7 billion to finance Federal Pell Grants in 2008-2009 with the amount adjusted for inflation each year thereafter.
- Appropriates $2.02 billion for grants for public school facility renovation, modernization, and repair.
- Appropriates $1 billion per year for early education projects through 2017.
- Mandates all iron, steel, and manufactured goods used for renovation, repair, construction, and modernization projects funded by this act must be produced in the United States unless waived by the Secretary of Education.
Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation. Bill Maske would have voted “Yes,” and he would work to see the interest rate on all student loans set at 3.4%.
Fact: The 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act (HR 2669) would incrementally lower the interest rates for Federally Subsidized Student Loans and Federal Direct Stafford Loans every year until the rate is set at 3.4%. It increases federal loan limits to provide borrowers with additional assistance in paying for college and to help them rely less on costlier private loans. It expanded eligibility to include and serve more students with financial need. It further does the following:
- Provides upfront tuition assistance to qualified undergraduate students who commit to teaching in public schools in high-poverty communities or high-need subject areas.
- Provides loan forgiveness for first responders, law enforcement officers, firefighters, nurses, public defenders, prosecutors, early childhood educators, librarians, and others.
- Revises policies to allow public servants to have their loans forgiven after 10 years.
- Establishes a partnership with federal, state, and local government entities, and philanthropic organizations through matching challenge grants aimed at increasing the number of first-generation and low-income college students.
Tom Latham voted “No” on this legislation; Bill Maske would have voted “Yes.”