mr. etheridge: thank you, madam chair. i yield myself two minutes. the chair: the gentleman is recognized. mr. etheridge: i want to thank chairman miller for his support on this amendment and his work to expand educational opportunities for all america's students. madam chair, as we work to make our student loan systems work better for taxpayers, we must also make sure that the system still works for students and families who seek to improve their future through education. my amendment makes sure that benefits that help students and expand access to college including loan counseling, outreach and education, and default prevention services continues to be available. it clarifies that these services targeted to local needs by state educational authorities and nonprofit agencies are eligible funding under h.r. 3221. guaranty agencies such as the north carolina educational assistance authority in my state has developed customized services to help students learn to manage their debt and avoid default. in 2007 they helped student

mr. etheridge: -- etheridge. mr. etheridge: i would like to thank representative kissell for organizing this special order this evening for a good friend and as you have heard, a 12-term member of this body. bill hefner, who passed away on wednesday, september 2 of this year, provided selfless service to our state of north carolina and to this nation as you have heard from a number of my colleagues already. but in his passing, we have lost a good friend. north carolina's lost an outstanding citizen and a man who was instrumental not only in this body, but instrumental in his community, in his state, everything he did. nancy has lost a devoted husband . stacey and shelly have lost a loving father. and he was a grandfather also who loved children. you heard he was a native of tennessee. first time i remember meeting bill hefner was more years ago than i want to admit. i was running for state superintendent. if you run in north carolina, that's an elected office. anybody who has a good side of the group, you want to be t