(May 2008). The House and Senate passed S. 3035, the fourteenth extension of the Higher Education Act on May 20. The new extender bill is through June 30, 2008 and did not offer further amendments to HEA.

At this time, it is unknown what effect Senator Kennedy’s illness will have on the conference report negotiations. After receiving a diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor (and numerous well-wishes and kind words from political friends and foes alike) this week, Kennedy is currently awaiting further test results and evaluating his treatment options. A plan for a meeting of the chairmen and ranking Republicans of the House and Senate education committees was postponed this week, but staff discussions continued intensively, with hours-long meetings throughout the week. Until Kennedy’s prognosis is known, however, a formal conference process won’t start, and final decisions on some of the remaining sticky issues will have to wait. Improvements to the Perkins Loan program are thought to be receiving favorable consideration.

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