THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ADOLPH, CIVERA, MANN, KILLION, MILNE, BAKER, BARRAR, BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, CAUSER, CHRISTIANA, CLYMER, P. COSTA, CUTLER, DALLY, DENLINGER, ELLIS, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GEIST, GINGRICH, GROVE, HARHART, HARKINS, HARPER, HESS, HICKERNELL, HOUGHTON, KAUFFMAN, MAHER, MAJOR, MARSICO, METZGAR, MILLARD, MILLER, MURT, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, PALLONE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUINN, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TRUE, VEREB, WATSON, YUDICHAK, ROCK, MENSCH, SONNEY, PAYNE, MOUL AND BEAR, AUGUST 17, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, AUGUST 17, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Senate to immediately override the Governor's line

item veto of the appropriation to the Pennsylvania Higher

Education Assistance Agency for payment of education

assistance grants as contained in section 228 of the act of

August 5, 2009 (P.L.   , No.1A), known as the General

Appropriation Act of 2009.

WHEREAS, Section 228 of the act of August 5, 2009 (P.L.   ,

No.1A), known as the General Appropriation Act of 2009, as

passed by the General Assembly, included an appropriation to the

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency in the amount of

$386,198,000 for payment of education assistance grants; and

WHEREAS, The appropriation provides grants to Pennsylvania

students pursuing higher education; and

WHEREAS, The Governor used his power of line item veto to

remove the appropriation; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency

is unable to process and award grants to students because of the

Governor's veto; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 172,000 students will be starting or

returning to college at the end of August with uncertainty about

the amount of their State grants and growing concern about how

to cover the costs of their education; and

WHEREAS, The number of students eligible for and in need of

State grants has increased due to the recession; and

WHEREAS, The veto action by the Governor has placed an undue

burden on college students and their families during this time

of economic strife; and

WHEREAS, Higher education is important for the future of our

students and the socioeconomic well-being of this Commonwealth;

and

WHEREAS, Helping to make a college education attainable by

providing State grants to Pennsylvania students should be a

priority; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the Senate

to immediately override the Governor's line item veto of the

appropriation to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance

Agency for payment of education assistance grants as contained

in section 228 of the act of August 5, 2009 (P.L.   , No.1A),

known as the General Appropriation Act of 2009.