Last updated February 11, 2009 4:00 a.m. PT

Bill: financial aid to illegal immigrant students
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Illegal immigrant students could get state financial aid for college under a bill being considered by Washington state lawmakers.

State Rep. Dave Quall, a Democrat from Mount Vernon who sponsored the bill, says many of these students are moved to the United States by their parents at an early age, are groomed in the American education system, and it wouldn't be right to deny aid to qualified illegal immigrant students.

The measure would expand current law to allow illegal immigrant students to be eligible for a state need grant program, which provided around $182 million in financial aid for 72,000 students in 2008.

The House Higher Education Committee has scheduled a Wednesday afternoon hearing on the bill.

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The illegal immigrant financial aid bill is House Bill 1706.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/642 ... l_aid.html