"Understanding the True Cost of College" Act Will Ensure Families Know Exact Cost of College When Deciding Which School to Attend

WASHINGTON, D.C. ?Today, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation to create a universal financial aid award letter so that families and students can easily compare financial aid packages from different schools. The legislation is led by Senators Al Franken of Minnesota and Chuck Grassley of Iowa and is cosponsored by Senate Education Committee Chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa, Marco Rubio of Florida, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Patty Murray of Washington, Ben Cardin of Maryland, Chuck Schumer of New York, Tom Carper of Delaware, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Chris Coons of Delaware, and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland.

Currently, schools do not use standard definitions or names for different types of aid, so students and families often report having difficulty differentiating between grant aid?which does not need to be repaid?and student loans, which do need to be repaid.

The Understanding the True Cost of College Act of 2013 would clarify what financial aid families will receive from a school and create standard terms for the aid offered so that students can accurately compare offers from different schools.

"Students in Minnesota graduate with the third highest average debt in the nation?nearly $30,000 each?and part of the problem is that they often don't have a clear picture of how much their education is going to actually cost them," said Sen. Franken. "My legislation will require schools to use a universal financial aid letter so students and their families will know exactly how much college will cost, and will help them compare apples to apples when deciding what school a student will attend."

"This initiative will empower students and parents with the information they need to make the best financial decision for their families and to avoid taking on more debt than they will be able to repay. The effort to fully inform is part of addressing the problem of student debt on the front end rather than after the fact. And, the more students and parents become savvy shoppers, the more colleges will be forced to rein in rising costs to compete for students," said Sen. Grassley.

"Last year, the amount of student loan debt owed by Americans surpassed $1 trillion, and that number is growing. It is important that students and their families have uniform, consumer-friendly information about the cost of college up-front so they can shop around, make apples-to-apples comparisons among colleges, and select a school that best meets their needs, in terms of both quality and affordability," said Sen. Harkin, who is Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. "Right now that is a difficult task since each school lists expenses differently. This bill will remove some of the mystery and guesswork for students and families as they navigate the higher education marketplace and empower them to make fully-informed decisions about where to attend."

"This legislation is an important step toward helping students and their families make truly informed decisions about their higher education options," said Sen. Rubio. "For the 21st century student to make smart financial decisions regarding college, we must equip them with easy-to-use and meaningful information about financial aid options available to them. Students will then be able to begin planning for their post-college careers from the beginning, and be prepared to enter today's competitive global workforce economy upon graduation."

The Understanding the True Cost of College Act would:

·           Require institutions of higher education to use a uniform financial aid award letter;

·           Call on the Department of Education to work with colleges, consumer groups, students, and school guidance counselors to develop standard definitions of various financial aid terms for use in the uniform financial aid award letters;

·           Establish what information must be included on page one of the uniform financial aid award letters, such as: cost of attendance, grant aid, work study assistance, eligible amounts of federal student loans, and the net amount a student is responsible for paying after subtracting grant aid.

·           Require the Department of Education to establish a process to consumer test the uniform financial aid award letter and use the results from the consumer testing in the final development of the uniform financial aid award letter.

More about the bill can be read here.

PORT BYRON, Ill. - State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is encouraging citizens to recognize Flag Day on June 14 and is offering tips on how to properly care for flags.

"Many brave men and women have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation's flag and everything it stands for," said Smiddy. "We take some time to remember flag day as a way to honor our troops' dedicated service and to remember the freedoms we have because of them."

The United States Flag Code, enacted in 1942, specifies the proper procedure for handling and displaying of the flag, which includes:

• The flag should never be displayed upside down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

• The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise.

• The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

• The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery.

• Bunting of blue, white and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping in front of the platform and for a decoration in general.

• The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way.

• The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

• The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture or drawing of any nature.

• The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything.

• The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever.

• The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.

Smiddy's constituent service office may be reached at 309-848-9098.

# # #

Homecoming Set for June 15 for Fort Sheridan-Based National Guard Unit

CHICAGO, IL (06/13/2013)(readMedia)-- Approximately 130 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers who served in Afghanistan will return home this weekend. The 933rd Military Police Company (MP) based at Fort Sheridan will have their homecoming ceremony at 7:30 a.m. June 15 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago (see directions below).

The unit was mobilized Aug. 7, 2012 and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The company worked with Special Forces troops in Afghanistan; therefore much of their mission is classified. 933rd Soldiers were spread across four remote combat posts in Afghanistan completing missions such as guard operations and prison escort.

Six Soldiers earned Bronze Stars, 76 troops earned Army Commendation Medals, 42 earned the Army Achievement Medals and 19 Soldiers received Combat Action Badges.

During their deployment, 10 Soldiers missed the birth of their babies and will see their infants for the first time at their homecoming ceremony.

"The deployment was successful because of the great American Soldiers in the 933rd Military Police Company," said Capt. Thomas Gilligan of Bolingbrook, 933rd commander. "These Soldiers selflessly gave up the comfort of their homes to defend freedom in a foreign land far away from their families and friends. We will forever be grateful."

The 933rd is relatively new to the Fort Sheridan community. In late 2010, the unit moved from Waukegan to a new $30 million readiness center at Fort Sheridan, which offers more opportunities for state-of-the-art training.

The 933rd was one of the first Illinois National Guard units deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was mobilized from February 2003 to July 2004. The unit also has a proud history of service with mobilizations in support of Desert Storm in 1990 and fighting in the Pacific alongside Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines that earned a unit award for gallantry from the Philippine President for serving from 1943 to 1945. Soldiers in the 933rd also fought in World War I, earning a unit award for bravery and honor in battle in 1918.

News media attending the event should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. Please contact the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Media Relations Office at (773) 686-3700 if you plan to cover the event. For more information call the Public Affairs Office at 217-761-3569 or email us at ng.il.ilarng.list.staff-pao@mail.mil.

Directions: Intersection of Patton Drive and Schlitz Road at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago is the ceremony location.

The easiest way to get there is exit to O'Hare toward the main terminal and go toward the rental car return area. The rental car return area is on Bessie Coleman Drive, which runs north and south and visitors will be traveling north. A large salt dome is on the intersection of Schlitz and Bessie Coleman. Turn left onto Schlitz.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today marking the fifth anniversary of the Floods of 2008.

"As we look back today on the Great Flood of 2008, we remember the homes that were destroyed and the businesses that were lost. But we also think about the neighbors who helped neighbors; the strangers who showed up with a shovel to help dig out a basement; and the first responders who worked around the clock and ensured no lives were lost. We saw Iowans come together and prove just how resilient we are. The rising rivers that were recently seen across our state tested our preparations and showed just how far Iowans and our communities have come.  It was a powerful reminder from Mother Nature about living with the threat of floods.

"While we can't predict what future floods will bring, we have seen time and again the importance of our state and communities being prepared for the uncertainties life near our rivers brings.  Remembering the 2008 floods is important to help make sure that we remain prepared for anything year after year, and to be proud of the progress we've made even as work on our recovery continues today.  No Iowan will ever forget the Great Flood of 2008 and I will make sure no one in Washington ever does either"