MEDIA ADVISORY May 26, 2010

Georgia State Representative Tom Rice

220 Capitol

Atlanta, Georgia

Tom.Rice@house.ga.go v

Representative Tom Rice announces intent to introduce legislation to eliminate exception for verification of eligibility post secondary education benefits in Georgia law – OCGA 50-36-1

Today, Representative Tom Rice called for a return to the rule of law and the protection of citizens and legal immigrants in the admissions procedures in Georgia’s University System.

If reelected Rep. Rice intends to sponsor legislation in the 2011 Georgia Legislative session that would remove language from Georgia code exempting post secondary education from the verification process already in place for the administration of other public benefits in Georgia.

“The state law is clear, the Board of Regents and our universities are required to follow the existing federal law regulating public benefits, including post secondary education. At any tuition rate, admitting anyone other than citizens or legal residents into our public university system is a violation of federal law and could be cheating lawful Georgia residents out of our higher education classroom seats. We had hoped that policies and procedures put in place in our university system would have been adapted to comply with the spirit, intent and letter of the law regardless of an exemption in the code.” said Rep. Rice. “That has not happened and recent events reported in the news demonstrate the need for legislative action.”

Rice cites federal law (8USC 1611, 8USC 1621 and 8USC 1623) that is clearly part of the Georgia law regulating post secondary benefits in Georgia.

“Taxpayer funded university benefits are intended for citizens and legal residents who have obeyed the rules. I intend to keep my word to those who entrusted me with their representation in our state government and to follow my oath of office to see that we obey the law in Georgia” ended Rice.

Representative Tom Rice represents the citizens of District 51, which includes portions of Fulton and Gwinnett counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1996, and currently serves as the Chairman for the House Motor Vehicles Committee and serves on the Rules, Ways & Means, Banks and Banking and Transportation Committees.