Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) joined members of several nonprofit organizations Thursday at the Omni Parker Hotel to discuss a federal provision that denies college students convicted of drug-related offenses federal financial aid.

In 1998, Rep. Mark Souder (R-Indiana) introduced legislation adding the drug-related crime provision to the Higher Education Act, which prevents students convicted of drug-related crimes from receiving federal funds such as loans, grants and even work-study programs.

Frank has led a national effort to repeal the legislation, which has denied over 157,000 students federal financial aid.

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