Concerned that the cost of college is steadily rising, Congressman Tierney continued to focus on providing incentives to make tuition affordable. He began the 110th Congress by again introducing his College Affordability and Accessibility Act (H.R.3519). This important legislation eventually served as the "road map" for the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which became public law in July 2008.

The bill, which signifies the biggest reform of the federal law governing higher education in a decade, is great news for students and families in the Commonwealth’s Sixth District and all over the country. Facing skyrocketing tuitions and fees, students of all ages are struggling to find a way to pay for college. Some end up taking on substantial debt, while others put their hopes on hold or forgo higher education completely. The Congressman carefully crafted this historic legislation, keeping in mind that we must ensure that the prospect of attending and graduating from college does not become an impossible dream in America.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act includes key legislative priorities that Congressman Tierney authored and long championed such as:

• “Incentives for Low Tuition” provision, which encourages institutions of higher education to rein in price increases by rewarding low tuitions and fees, encouraging the use of innovative cost strategies, and rewarding institutions where it matters most, by providing increased need-based aid to students;

• Loan Forgiveness of up to $10,000 ($2,000 over 5 years) to graduates who work in certain public service professions;

• "Cooperative Education" provision, which ensures that work study students do not lose their Pell Grant eligibility when they work as part of a cooperative education program. Cooperative education provides an alternative for students who want to earn extra money and parlay their education into successful employment;

• A first-of-its-kind study on endowments directing Comptroller General to analyze the amounts, uses, and public purposes of college and university endowments;

• A new grant program to enable institutions to create and expand high-quality programs for students with intellectual disabilities such as autism;

• "Single Parent Model Program," which authorizes funds to support the center for Best Practices to Support Single Parents;

In addition to the above, the Congressman spearheaded the "State Maintenance of Effort" requirement that rewards states which maintain their effort to provide consistent and adequate support for their own public institutions. The State Maintenance of Effort provision is a critical measure toward stemming the tide of steep tuition increases at public higher education institutions across the country and making college more accessible to all qualified students. John fought to see that this provision was included in the final bill and will monitor its implementation and continue his efforts to make college more affordable and accessible.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act builds upon the Congressman’s success last year when Congress enacted the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which provides more than $20 billion in federal college aid for students over five years – and at no new cost to taxpayers. This spring, Tierney also supported the now-enacted Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act, which safeguards students’ access to federal financial aid from turmoil in the U.S. credit markets. That law also carried no cost for taxpayers.