Currently, the 529 student savings plan is only useable in the current school year. The expansion of the plan to include student (and parent) college loans would enable students and parents to pay off their loans faster. The student loan debt load is inhibiting the entire economy, including housing, by preventing young people and their parents from taking on additional debt to purchase homes.

it's at the root of most of our problems

My daughter, Holly Bobo, was abducted on 4-13-11. After two years the case is still unsolved. There are other families in West Tennessee that have experienced the same tragedy for longer. Now is the time to push for a new approach and fresh eyes to achieve resolution for all these families. Please sign this petition to support the creation of a special task force. The new team will be comprised of qualified professionals who can re-examine and investigate these open missing persons cases.

My sister was murdered by her boyfriend. It will be 10 years this August 16th, her birthdate. He had a record of abuse with at least one count of felony. If we had a roster of felony abusers to look up his name and warn my sister. She would still be here today

students with special challenges

Peggy Miller, mother, grandmother, small business owner and medical herbalist in Montana, once learned of major Government Service Contract building contract corruption and public fund theft when working in Washington, D.C. It was $5 billion at that time in late 1970's, and based on GSA's growth since, she now estimates it at $20 billion annually. She was a girl in her 20's who was dating a young man who's father was Government Service Administration director. That GSA director discovered this corruption. The next thing she knew that GSA director was being asked to resign, and the hearings were called off. She forgot about it, feeling powerless to do anything. But one day in the late 1990’s she wrote it down in a notebook that was soon stolen from her home along with many other work and personal files, and her harassment began. It took her awhile to figure out that the break-ins and indication of surveillance in her home, and theft of her files, was probably related to that GSA corruption knowledge she had, and so she went to the FBI in 2002 and reported what she knew. She told the FBI that she knew the General Services Administration had been colluding with the mafia in allowing ballooning of GSA building and maintenance contracts and the siphoning off of half those funds. She told the FBI that the amount she had been told was being stolen from contracts in 1979 was $5 billion and the corruption existed in most states. The New Hampshire FBI agent she reported it to checked and verified the accuracy of her report, said others had reported the same thing, and it was still on-going. That FBI agent said her report was sent to Washington,D.C. for investigation. Then there was silence. Peggy Miller continued to be subjected to house break-ins, electronic and personal surveillance via person, computers and phone, and in her house. There was some food and water contamination, but that improved. She continued to report to the FBI and finally went to the U.S. Attorney's office in 2007 who said they needed the FBI, but even they were ignored by the FBI when sending them the complete file. In 2009 Peggy began to report it directly to the President, U.S. Cabinet, and Congressmen and many national organizations. She went to lawyers who said that it was a job for the U.S. Attorney's office, who keeps saying they need the FBI on board. But the FBI does nothing. It is time for a petition to the U.S. Senate to investigate the whole matter, including why the FBI has done nothing. Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the FBI can't deal with the hugeness of Wall Street boondoggles and the size of multinational corporations. Is GSA too large too? We must get a handle on these massive leaks to the public Treasury, or our economy will never recover.

After High school like most 18 year old I went into college not knowing what I wanted out of life. As a result I left and joined the workforce. Now I am 29 and a single mother trying to pursue a degree in Nursing. UnfortunatelyI was told that because congress had change the rule and put a cap on the number of years you may use a pell grant I am forced to just not be able to finish college. I cannot afford to pay for it on my own so Im in a situation that seems there is no solution to. Please ask congress to lift this rule so that myself and many others like me can finish their degree.

The ecomony is recovering slowly. There are a lot of people suffering from unemployment, from no medical care. Republicans held a meeting the week Obama was elected in whch members vowed not to work with President Obama " make Obama a one term President" The decisions made in that meeting by Republicans have hurt the millions of unemployed middle class and poor people in this country. We need to know who attended that meeting and what was said. Republicans have been able to get away "just saying no" and blaming the slow ecomonic recovery on Obama because the main press has refused to hold them accountable for their actions.

I am tired of out of touch and completely corrupted politicians running this country. They run for office using the same tactics the advertising companies use to fool you into buying a worthless product. Then we are surprised that the elected official is worthless. After so many years in office, the "not for the people' influences have taken over any shred of decency they may have had.

I've talked to many unemployed individuals who talk about the difficulty getting a job, because of online applications. My son got a job after looking for months, only because he met someone whose husband worked for the company, and he pulled my son's application, and offered him the job. How are people supposed to get jobs when they can not get an interview? Applicants are also warned against calling to follow up on the status of their application. Personal interviews can reveal more about an individuals work ethic!

The air I breath is at stake. The vegetation we eat is in danger. The ice caps are going to melt and wipe out all coastal cities if we do nothing. This directly affects every single human, and it is our last chance.

Current law requires a permit to carry a concealed and loaded weapon. This proposal would legalize anybody, including criminals, to carry a loaded and concealed weapon without permission.