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Rep. Campbell: Topics lawmakers won’t fight over — puppies and kittens

By WTOP Staff

Katy Nelson, special to wtop.com

WASHINGTON – On a beautiful sunny Valentine’s Day on Capitol Hill, the fur was flying, but not for the usual reasons.

The ASPCA joined the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus in hosting “Paws for Love,” an animal adoption event on Thursday that honored shelter animals and rescue organizations across the country.

“We are here to celebrate the millions of lovable homeless dogs and cats currently waiting to be adopted, and to stand united in our appreciation for the vital services provided by the thousands of community animal shelters nationwide,” Nancy Perry, senior vice president of ASPCA Government Relations, said.

Ten local rescue and shelter organizations gathered on the plastic-lined floors of the Cannon Caucus Room with over 50 homeless dogs and cats, all doing their best to wiggle their way into the hearts of the representatives, staffers and members of the media in attendance.

Jackie Gosnell, a staffer for Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), said with a smile on her face that she was thrilled to attend and support animal adoption.

When asked why he was part of this event, Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, responded exuberantly.

“Why? Because it’s fun!” he said. “We see more and more animals each year that were adopted on Adoption Day. I have my own adopted pet that rests under my desk here every day. At one time, he was like all of these dogs and cats, just a scared little mongrel. Now he’s part of my family and my staff.”

Throughout the room, the same sentiment kept surfacing that this was the only event on Capitol Hill where everyone leaves the room smiling.

Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) perhaps summed it up best.

“In a town where the discourse isn’t always civil, there doesn’t seem to be anything that we can find to fight over when it comes to puppies and kitties,” he said.

While bi-partisanship was a hot topic of conversation among the attendees, Bob Ramin, CEO of the Washington Animal Rescue League, said because of the stress on the job, everyone on Capitol Hill needs a pet to come home to.

“They’re not a Democrat, they’re not a Republican, they’re staunchly independent,” he said.

Harry Truman once said if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog. It turns out, quite a few people wanted a friend. Tally, a Lab-Pitbull mix from Washington Humane Society, who had been in foster care for over a year, finally got the love she was looking for on Valentine’s Day in a warm and loving “Fur-ever” home.

Dr. Katy Nelson is an emergency veterinarian in Alexandria, Va. Tune in to “The Pet Show” with Dr. Katy every Saturday at 11 a.m. on Washington D.C.’s News Channel 8, and listen on WTOP for her Dr. Pawz segments every two weeks. Have questions for Dr. Katy? You can follow her on Twitter @drkatynelson, on Facebook or email her at askdrkaty@wtop.com.

Follow @WTOPLiving on Twitter.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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