A sweeping student aid bill which increases federal grants and changes the way students can borrow money from the federal government passed the U.S. House of Representatives last Thursday.The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 would convert all federal loan lending — currently done through federally subsidized private banks sometimes referred to as “middle men” — to the Direct Lending Program, eliminating the banks in the loan process and allowing students to take out loans directly from the federal government. The bill would also raise the maximum award from the annual Pell Grant scholarship from $5,350 to $5,500 in 2010 and eventually to $6,900 by 2019.”Of course, we are glad any time we can offer any additional aid to students,” said Amy Marix, associate director of federal aid in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid.Marix expressed some reservations with the bill, despite supporting much of its substance — primarily how transferring to a new loan program in 2010, a relatively short timeline, will affect “students in the timing we can process financial aid.””We don’t know exactly what the implications are at this time if we have to transfer,” she said.The bill’s supporters say allowing the federal government to handle student loans is cost-efficient and will protect students from market fluctuations because the federal government would handle the loans, keeping interest rates low.The vote on the Democratic-led bill broke down largely along party lines, 253-171 — with few crossovers from either party.Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, who is a 2010 Senate candidate challenging incumbent Republican Sen. David Vitter, and Rep. Joseph Cao, R-New Orleans, were the only two in Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to vote for the bill.”This legislation will help many deserving students in Louisiana achieve [earning an advanced degree] by dramatically increasing the amount of federal scholarship money available for them, while also strengthening the student loan program,” Melancon said in a news release.Supporters claim the bill is a much-needed break for college students in a difficult economic climate and also point to a Congressional Budget Office estimate that the bill will save billions. Conservative critics allege the program is an attempt by President Barack Obama to take over the student loan agency.”We need competition in the private sector,” Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., told ABC News last Thursday. “We don’t need to take over this sector like what we did with the automobile industry. Socialism doesn’t work. Government control doesn’t work.”It’s not difficult to find students who haven’t heard about the bill, but first impressions were generally positive.”It’s a good idea,” said Jacob Miller, theatre sophomore, about the federal government handling loans. “My bank is snooty.” He added his mother would be pleased with a provision in the bill which would simplify the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid forms. “The FAFSA is almost not worth it,” said Corinne Louis, communications studies senior, lamenting the complicated form. Louis said she liked the content of the bill but expressed overall apathy about it.”It doesn’t really matter,” she said. “You have to pay the money back one day anyway.”——Contact Nate Monroe at [email protected]