Budget Control Act of 2011 and student loans

If you were recently caught up in the wrangling and discontent over the budget ceiling bill but still do not understand House Amendment S 365, now known as the Budget Control Act of 2011, go to this website for full text:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s365eah/pdf/BILLS-112s365eah.pdf

(President Obama talks to students in Boston. Photo from White House website.)

Looking past the trillions of dollars in discretionary and budgetary authorities allocated by the new bill and changing of "food stamps" to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), one thing that immediately caught my attention deals with the student loans section on page 69. This bill terminates "the authority to make interest loans to graduate and professional students" and deems them "ineligible to receive Federal Direct Stafford loans."

I talked to Michael in the White House press office who urged me to email my questions. I have specifically asked, "How will this affect professional student's abilities to procure advanced degrees, especially poor and minority college graduates who are considering returning to school because they cannot find employment?"

As soon as I receive a response, I will post.

©2011 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.