U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, voted Thursday for legislation that would protect students' and parents' access to financial aid amid ongoing turmoil in the credit market.Altmire joined with Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House of Representatives' Education and Labor Committee, last week to introduce the measure, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008.The bill would increase federal loan limits for students by $2,000 a year, which would reduce students' dependence on more expensive private loans.Currently, students can borrow $3,500 in federal loans for their first year at college, $4,500 for their second and $5,500 for their final two years.The House passed the bill by a vote of 383 to 27."By passing this bill, Congress has taken a proactive step to ensure turmoil in the financial markets will not stand in the way of families' ability to send their children to college," he said.In addition, he noted, the measure would allow parent borrowers to defer beginning payment on their federal PLUS loans until up to six months after their children leave school, providing much-needed financial flexibility.It will also help homeowners pay for college by making sure that short-term delinquencies in mortgage payments do not prohibit otherwise eligible parents from being able to borrow parent PLUS loans.———U.S. Rep.

Phil English, R-3rd, is supporting an effort to change rules in the House of Representatives that would allow members of Congress to have volunteer and community leadership roles."Under the current House Rules, lawmakers are faced with severe limitations in our role when it comes to local charity drives or other community activities," he said.Last Christmas, English said he wanted to participate in the Erie Marine Corps Reserve's "Toys for Tots" program for underprivileged children.But because of House Rules, the Committee on Standards and Official Conduct told English he was not permitted to have a drop-off box to collect donated toys outside of his office.In February, English said he attempted to organize a high school congressional essay contest in support of Earth Day. He also sought to launch a competition for schools in his district for schools to compete by creating projects that benefited the environment.Again, English was denied by the House Ethics Committee to advance these projects.English's legislation, the Congressional Leadership in Communities Resolution, he said, would change the House Rules to allow members of Congress to sponsor and conduct competitions among students in their congressional districts.It would also permit members to allow charitable organizations to use facilities of their offices.———District Judge

Sue Haggerty of Saxonburg has been recertified as a member of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System after completing her 2008 continuing legal education work.The weeklong instruction program in Harrisburg by the Minor Judiciary Education Board and the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts is required for district judges.———The Biotechnology Industry Organization on Wednesday recognized U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, as its "Legislator of the Year"for 2007-2008."BIO commends Representative Altmire for his leadership in the New Democrat Health Care Task Force and his consistent support of our industry," said Jim Greenwood, the group's president and chief executive officer.BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations.