DETERRING DRUG ABUSE

Regarding your "Drugs and student aid" item (April 4 Under the Dome):
The drug conviction provision disqualifying a student for federal
financial aid applies only to students who were convicted for the
sale or possession of a controlled substance that occurred while the
student was enrolled in postsecondary education and receiving Title
IV student aid. Participation in an eligible rehabilitation program
enables a student to re-establish eligibility for such aid.

The article insinuates that I am personally "considering repealing
the aid ban as part of this year's reauthorization of the [higher
education] act," which is simply not true. As a member of the House
Education and Labor Committee, I will be involved in the
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. However, the committee
has not had any discussion on the drug conviction issue.

If we were to repeal the provision, we would be saying that we
condone the use or sale of harmful drugs and that there should not be
a penalty that can act as a deterrent to such bad behavior. It seems
to me that we need to do more to require people to be responsible for
their behavior and not less.

Virginia Foxx

U.S. House of Representatives Washington (The writer, a Republican,
represents North Carolina's 5th Congressional District.)