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Statement of William H. Neukom, President, American Bar Association
Re: Congressional Approval of Higher Education Reauthorization and College Opportunity Act of 2008
CHICAGO, Aug. 1, 2008 - I commend the Congress on its successful passage of legislation reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, representing a vital investment in our nation's educational system and America's future. In particular, the American Bar Association welcomes approval of programs that will help ensure access to justice to all people by helping those who choose to enter low paying public service careers to better focus on the services they provide while repaying what is often staggering student loan debt. We applaud the leadership of Sen. Richard Durbin over several Congresses, along with Sen. Arlen Specter, Rep. David Scott, Rep. Bobby Scott and Rep. Ted Poe in achieving a new program to help the nation's prosecutor and defender offices remain more fully staffed to enhance the quality of their representation of defendants and the effective prosecution of crime. We also appreciate the years of leadership of Sen. Tom Harkin, joined by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, Rep. David Obey, and Rep. Jerrold Nadler for a new program that eases student loan debt burdens for those who provide critical civil legal aid to our nation’s poor, particularly at a time when events such as the mortgage foreclosure crisis and recent natural disasters place increased demands on an already-overburdened legal assistance system. For these and other invaluable efforts, including reauthorization of the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program providing technical and financial assistance to promising but disadvantaged students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, we are deeply grateful. Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sen. Michael Enzi, Rep. George Miller and Rep. Buck McKeon and their staffs have dedicated years of hard work to usher this truly landmark legislation through multiple Congresses to benefit not just those who enter the finest higher education system in the world, but the people whom they in turn will serve.
