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July 31, 2008: Rep. Gonzalez Votes to Send Landmark Higher Education Legislation to the President |
Washington, DC - Congressman Charlie
Gonzalez (TX-20) today joined an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House
of Representatives to approve legislation that would address the soaring price
of college tuition and remove other obstacles that make it harder for qualified
students to go to college.
By a vote of 380-49, the House approved the Higher Education
Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137), which would reform and strengthen the nation's
higher education programs to ensure that they operate in the best interests of
students and families. The legislation builds on Congressional efforts to make
college more affordable and accessible for all qualified students. Last year,
Congress enacted into law a $20 billion increase in college financial aid over
the next five years, the largest increase in student aid since the G.I. Bill of
1944.
The Senate is also expected to take a final vote on the legislation this
week; if passed the bill would then be sent to the President's desk for his
signature.
"A sound investment in education, especially one that results
in lower costs and greater access to educational opportunities, serves the best
interests of American families, students, and our economy," said Congressman
Gonzalez. "This legislation represents exactly the type of commitment to
education we need in our country, and it is one that will create a talented and
diverse workforce that can lead our economy in the future," he added.
An
October 2007 report from the College Board showed that, over the previous five
years, tuition and fees had increased across the board, at public and private
colleges and at two-year and four-year colleges. In Texas, tuition and fees
at public four-year institutions grew by 8 percent between 2006-07 and 2007-08.
The bill would address these rising prices by encouraging colleges to rein in
price increases, ensuring that states maintain their commitments to higher
education funding, providing students and families with consumer friendly
information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases, and
streamlining the federal student financial aid application process.
The
legislation also strengthens provisions previously approved by the House to
avoid conflicts of interest in the student loan programs. The bill's new
provisions include requiring better consumer disclosures and protections on
private student loans. Together these protections form a Bill of Rights for
college consumers.
"The safeguards included in this bill, particularly
those aimed at protecting student loans, take necessary and appropriate steps to
ensure that families continue to have uninterrupted access to resources for
higher education," said Congressman Gonzalez.
In addition, the Higher
Education Opportunity Act would:
- Make textbook costs more manageable
for students by, among other things, helping them plan for textbook expenses in
advance of each semester;
- Allow students to receive year-round
Pell Grant scholarships;
- Strengthen college readiness and
support programs for minority and low-income students;
- Increase college aid and support
programs for veterans and military families;
- Improve safety on college campuses
and help schools recover and rebuild after a disaster;
- Ensure equal college opportunities
and fair learning environments for students with disabilities; and
- Strengthen our nation's workforce
and economic competitiveness by boosting science, technology, and foreign
language educational opportunities.
H.R. 4137 is a comprehensive
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the primary federal law aimed at
expanding college access for low- and middle-income students If enacted, this
would be the first time the Higher Education Act was reauthorized since 1998.
The current law expired in 2003.
For more information on the Higher
Education Opportunity Act, click here.
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