Deaf Watch Newsletter
(address snipped)

May 2, 1998

The Honorable Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Boxer:

I am writing to urge your strong support for passage of S. 1882, a bill to 
extend the Higher Education Act and protect students from rising college 
costs.

A college education is the best investment we can make in America's future.  
Students are going deeper and deeper in to debt to meet the rising costs of 
college.   Without the needed updates to the Higher Education Act contained in 
S. 1882, students access to loans, grants and other financial aid will be 
threatened.  Disabled students oftentimes rely on financial aid in order to 
complete their educational needs.

S.1882, sponsored by Chairman Jeffords (R-VT) and Senator Kennedy (D-MA), will 
make needed changes to our student aid programs that will help students 
significantly.  It will reduce the cost of student loans by reducing the 
interest rate, increase the amount of grant aid available, and result in 
better service to students applying for financial aid.

These changes to the Higher Education Act are extremely important in keeping 
the doors of a college education open for future generations.  I urge you to 
work for swift passage of S.1882.  

The disability community is one of the largest and most underrepresented 
groups in the State as well in the nation.

Thank you for consideration of S.1882, and I look forward to hearing from you 
with regard to this important issue. 

Sincerely,

Richard Roehm
Deaf Watch Newsletter