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I recently received a bulletin from the SSDP(students for sensible drug policy) informing me of a bill recently introduced to the senate which would allow judges to use judicial discretion when dealing with the loans of students charged with a drug offense. In case you were unaware, current US law essentially strips any student of their student loans if they have a drug offense on their record. As many of you know, I myself am a student and my biggest fear about being caught and charged by the police is how I would pay for college if I lost my loans. I could probably make it work, but would end up paying thousands more(and my tuition is already insane >.<).

I am only asking you to take a moment of your time to send a letter or email to your congressmen and women encouraging them to support this bill so we can take a step in the right direction and stop punishing students!!!

This is the bulletin I received from the SSDP containing the link to send an email to your congressional representatives.

"Subject: Help students get their financial aid back!

mobilize -- Allow judicial discretion for student aid penalty

On March 13, U.S. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) introduced the first ever Senate bill to prevent college students from automatically losing financial aid as a punishment for drug offenses. S.2767 would allow students with drug convictions to keep aid and stay in school unless a judge specifically ruled they should lose education in addition to other punishments imposed like fines, jail time, or community service.

Although the penalty should be repealed outright, the judicial discretion bill would tremendously reduce its impact by turning it into an opt-in punishment instead of an automatic one. Take action now by spending one minute to edit and send a pre-written letter to your senators! mobilize -- Allow judicial discretion for student aid penalty"

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Subject: You're the boss. Make a call to change the law!

mobilize --

If you could help change a terrible federal drug law just by making a few phone calls, would you do it?

As you probably know, Students for Sensible Drug Policy is engaged in a heated battle to repeal the law that revokes college financial aid as a punishment for drug convictions. We've been working on this issue for almost a decade now, but sources on Capitol Hill are telling us that Congress will finally decide whether to get rid of this harmful penalty or keep it within the next few weeks.

Right now is the most important time in this huge campaign, and we need your help to get Congress to listen!

Please take five minutes right now to call your two U.S. senators and one U.S. representative and urge them to repeal the harmful and unfair aid elimination penalty.

mobilize --

This past week, SSDP went to Capitol Hill to hand deliver letters from 200 prominent addiction recovery, education, faith, and civil rights organizations demanding that legislators give aid back to students.

And it seems like the message is starting to get through! Just a few days ago Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), the powerful chairman of the key Senate committee with oversight of this issue, co-sponsored a bill to overturn the "mandatory minimum" aid penalty.

But if we're going to win this battle and keep students in school, we need to convince even more legislators to get on board. That's where you come in. Your legislators in Washington, DC aren't going to tackle this issue unless they hear from you - their boss - that you want them to.

We have an online system that makes it really easy for you to help. All you have to do is enter your zip code and you'll see the phone numbers for your legislators; we'll also give you talking points to help you figure out what to say on each call.

We really need you to make three phone calls today (two senators and one representative), but if you only have time for one or two it will still make a big impact!

So go to mobilize -- right now and start dialing. Don't be nervous. Remember, your legislators work for you. And if you don't make these important calls, who will?

Please take action today. Students need your help to finally win this decade-long campaign.

Thanks for your help,

Tom Angell
SSDP Government Relations Director

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