Congress develops, debates, and votes on several initiatives at once, but there are typically two to three salient issues gripping the nation at any one time. What are those issues for you? Tell us. Below are the handful of topics currently on the docket.

Past Installments:
February 2009
March 2009
April/May 2009
June 2009
Summer (July, August) 2009

Student Aid Bill

The Lowdown: This legislation would make college more accessible to individuals, improve student loan programs and early childhood education, and prepare students for 21st century jobs, while reducing the federal deficit. The bill invests $150.3 million in Upper Manhattan to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship from $5,350 today to $5,550 in 2010 and to $6,900 by 2019. The bill also makes 28,232 students in the community eligible for Pell grant awards for the 2010-11 academic year. 

Update: 09/17 4:45 PM: House passes the bill 253-171.

Here are a few of Congressman Rangel's words:

"Education is, in my opinion, the most critical factor that determines the future well-being of our community, and this bill reduces the financial roadblocks and other challenges that deny our youth the opportunity to learn, succeed, and overcome the threats to their hopes and dreams. My home, New York City, graduates only 45.2 percent of its students and has 200,000 disconnected youth ages 16 to 24 who are not in school and without employment," Congressman Rangel said.  "As someone who, through the GI Bill, was transformed from a high school dropout to a college graduate and lawyer, I have been concerned with disparities in education all of my life.  That is why I am so supportive of the bill we passed today."

For the full press release, click here.

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