William Pryor: “to day I am introducing legislation that will address a situation facing Elderhostel. Elderhostel, for those who have…”

“to day I am introducing legislation that will address a situation facing Elderhostel. Elderhostel, for those who have not heard of this organization, is an independent, non-profit organization which operates a central course catalog and registration system for college level classes for people over the age of 60. These courses are sponsored by colleges and universities at more than 1,900 colleges, universities, museums, national parks, and environmental education centers in the United States, Canada, and 47 other countries. Elderhostel receives no Federal or State support. Elderhostel provides easy access to these continuing education programs through the mailing of its course catalog. Unfortunately, a U.S. Postal Service definition prevents Elderhostel from mailing their catalog at a second-class catalog rate. This catalog rate is used, for example, by the American Bar Associations' continuing legal education material. Elderhostel is barred from using that rate because rather than being a catalog of one institution of higher learning, it is a compilation of courses offered by otherwise eligible ``regularly incorporated non-profit institutions of learning.'' The legislation I am introducing today simply expands the definition of an institution of higher education eligible to mail at second-class rates to include a nonprofit organization that coordinates a network of college level courses that non-profit colleges and universities offer to older adults.…”