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Washington, D.C. -- The House of Representatives today reauthorized the Higher Education Act, the framework for federal student financial assistance programs. Though inadequate in helping students afford the rising cost of college, the measure included several important provisions long championed by Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12).
“I was disappointed that H.R. 609 did not reverse the $12.76 billion raid on student aid – the largest cut in history – that Congress enacted earlier this year,” said Rep. Holt. “We should be increasing our investment in educating our workforce, not cutting it. Slashing college financial aid will only weaken American competitiveness and limit individual opportunity.”
It was due in large part to the inadequate investment in college financial aid that Holt voted against H.R. 609. However, the bill was improved by several measures that Holt incorporated into the bill. The first is the Part Time Student Assistance Act (H.R. 1390), legislation to establish a pilot program for year-round Pell Grants at community colleges, which are currently available for only two semesters at four-year institutions. Holt, a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, introduced the bill last year. H.R. 609 extends year-round Pell opportunities to four-year institutions and community colleges, per Holt’s legislation.
A member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Rep. Holt also introduced the National Security Language Act (H.R. 115) last year. The bill would provide $10,000 loan forgiveness for students of critical-need foreign languages who go on to teach or work in a federal agency. H.R. 609 contains $5,000 of loan forgiveness for such individuals. H.R. 609 also includes a Holt proposal for a Department of Education study to identify heritage communities of foreign language speakers.
The House also passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Holt and Rep. Cathy McMorris (R-WA) that will increase the number of content specialists in math, science, and critical foreign language courses; recruit well-qualified Americans to serve as adjunct teachers in math, science, and foreign language classes; and establish comprehensive teacher preparation programs to facilitate a kindergarten through pipeline of critical foreign languages. The bipartisan amendment passed by a vote of 293 - 134.
“The bill includes several of my proposals to make college more affordable and improve math, science, and foreign language education,” said Rep. Holt. “A college education is more important than ever for the future of individual students and our economy at large. “Unfortunately, that trend has corresponded with skyrocketing tuition costs, and H.R. 609 does not do enough to help qualified students attend college.”
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