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Update on Fed Up Project
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December 5, 2001

Dear Colleague:

I am writing with an update on our efforts to provide regulatory relief within the student financial aid programs as part of the FED UP project. As indicated in previous correspondence, I am going to make every effort to provide periodic updates as to our progress.

Although the events of the past few months have slowed down our efforts somewhat, I am happy to report that a draft FED UP chart will be available for your review by the end of the week via the Internet at http://edworkforce.house.gov - then click on the FED UP link at the bottom of the page. It is important to note a few things about the chart. Most importantly, it is still a work in progress. If you submitted a specific issue and do not find it in this chart, that is not because we are not reviewing your issue; it will be updated on the next iteration of the chart. I felt it was important for you to see the steps being taken to move the process forward and not wait for a completed chart. Updates will be posted to the same web site, so please check back. Next, many comments received were the same or similar on many topics. Therefore, we consolidated comments, rationale and proposed language where we could to avoid duplication.

Also, we have begun conversations with the U.S. Department of Education and they have been extremely receptive to working with us on the issues listed in FED UP. A negotiated rulemaking process to specifically address FED UP issues is now underway and will take place over the next several months. This will allow several of the regulatory issues on the FED UP chart to be addressed, leaving the statutory issues for legislative action and reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

I look forward to our continued collaboration on this important project and appreciate your patience while we continue to move forward.

Sincerely,

Howard P. "Buck" McKeon
Chairman
Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness