December 14, 2001

Department of Education to Negotiate New Title IV Rules

The Department of Education Dec. 5 issued a notice of intention [66 Federal Register 63203] to establish negotiated rulemaking committees for programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. The announcement comes in response to the "Fed Up" campaign initiated by Representatives Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-Calif.) and Patsy Mink (D-Hawaii), chairman and ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness [see Washington Highlights, June 15]. Only those proposals that were received and do not require statutory changes will be considered in this rulemaking process. The Department plans to establish two committees of key stakeholder constituencies who will meet three times in Washington, DC to negotiate consensus on proposed regulations. The two committees will focus on student loan issues and other program issues. Nominations for the committees are being solicited until Dec. 19.

Information: Jonathan Fishburn, AAMC Office of Governmental Relations, 202-828-0525.