FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       

CONTACT: Tony Pals, tony@naicu.edu

office: 202-739-0474     cell: 202-288-9333 

Rep. Phil English to Receive 2006 NAICU Award for Advocacy of Independent Higher Education 

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 3—Rep. Phil English (R-Pa.) has been selected by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) to receive its 2005 Award for Advocacy of Independent Higher Education.  The award will be presented at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, at the NAICU annual meeting.  The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. 

The NAICU Advocacy Award was established in 1993 to recognize individuals outside of academe who have championed the cause of independent nonprofit higher education. Whether in government, business, or philanthropy, the winner of this award has provided leadership, established resources, or enacted policy at the state or national level that recognized the role of independent colleges and universities in serving public purposes.  No single contribution makes one eligible to receive the award.  Instead, it recognizes a lifetime of service, initiative, and determination. 

Since being elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, Rep. Phil English has been one of the strongest supporters of independent higher education in Congress.  One of the first bills he introduced after taking office was legislation to make college savings plans tax-free.  Over the course of his 10 years in office, he has continued to support tax incentives to increase access to college, provide relief to students and families, and reduce burdens after graduation. 

English and his staff have worked directly with the colleges in and around his congressional district for years, as well as working with NAICU on key issues important to our institutions.  Early last year he introduced the Higher Education Availability and Affordability Act, which would:  

• Expand the student loan interest deduction
• Increase allowable contributions to all types of education savings plans
• Allow scholarships and grants to be used for room and board expenses without tax penalties
• Expand allowable expenses under the Hope tax credit
• Make permanent all of the higher education incentives currently set to expire in 2011
• Permanently expand the tuition deduction for higher education expenses 

“Rep. English's steady and determined work has made college more affordable to millions of families across the nation,” said NAICU President David L. Warrren.  “America’s students, families, and colleges and universities are fortunate to have a champion like him on Capitol Hill.  We are honored to recognize his leadership and commitment to independent higher education.” NAICU serves as the unified national voice of independent higher education. 

With nearly 1,000 member institutions and associations nationwide, NAICU reflects the diversity of private, nonprofit higher education in the United States.  NAICU members enroll 85 percent of all students attending private institutions.  They include traditional liberal arts colleges, major research universities, church- and faith-related institutions, historically black colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, single-sex colleges, art institutions, two-year colleges, and schools of law, medicine, engineering, business, and other professions.    

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