Ensure federal student loan eligibility

Under current law, any student convicted of possessing or selling a controlled substance becomes ineligible to receive federal student loans, grants, or work assistance for a period of time.[2] This policy disproportionately impacts students of color, who are more likely to be convicted of disqualifying drug offenses.[3] According to the U.S. Department of Education, 86 percent of Black students take out student loan debt compared to 68 percent of white students.[4] As a result, the current law marginalizes those who need aid the most and deprives them of access to the educational opportunities needed to improve their lives.[5] Legislation introduced in the House and Senate during previous Congresses would have repealed the provision of the Higher Education Act that makes students convicted of drug-related offenses ineligible for federal student aid.[6][7]