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CONTACT: Amy Auth
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WASHINGTON –  This afternoon, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.-5) voted to pass H.R. 609, the College Access & Opportunity Act.  This bill reauthorizes programs of the Higher Education Act and strengthens our country’s higher education system by expanding college access for lower and middle-income students.  It also includes two provisions authored by Foxx to protect the privacy of college students and to increase accountability in TRIO grant programs.

“As a former community college president as well as university administrator and instructor, I am deeply committed to our students and seeing that they receive the full value of their education.  And the bottom line is this bill provides greater access for those of lesser means who wish to attain it,” said Rep. Foxx during debate yesterday.

The congresswoman said in order to keep our nation on the cutting edge, we must have a highly educated workforce.  She praised the bill for strengthening math, science and foreign language instruction and including incentives to recruit more and better prepare current teachers in these critical areas. 

Rep. Foxx said she is especially pleased that two of her provisions were included in the bill.  The first would prohibit the Department of Education from creating a federal database of personal information about college students.  “The privacy of the individual is one of the main tenets on which our great nation was founded.  It is a fundamental protection that we hold dear, and this provision will help ensure that privacy isn’t threatened simply because a student chooses to enroll in college,” she said.

Her second provision calls on TRIO grant programs to better demonstrate their effectiveness and results. “As a former director of the Upward Bound and Student Support Services Programs at Appalachian State University, I have seen firsthand how these programs have helped many of our youth achieve their goals of a higher education,” said Rep. Foxx. “I am a strong believer in the TRIO programs, and that is why I am committed to making them stronger.  There is nothing in current law that provides a way for these programs to demonstrate their effectiveness.  If we want to help these programs prove that they are doing all that we know they are, we must institute accountability measures so their purpose and effectiveness won’t continue to be questioned.” 

The College Access & Opportunity Act passed the House in a 221 to 199 vote.

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