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As families are struggling in this recession, tens of millions of students are losing the opportunity to go to college. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes key provisions to keep the doors of college open. The bill:
Improves current higher education tax credits, by creating a new “American Opportunity” tax credit with a maximum of $2,500 rather than the current maximum of $1,800 — thereby making college more affordable for millions of low- and moderate-income students.
Also provides this new “American Opportunity” tax credit to nearly 4 million low-income students who had not had any access to higher education tax credits in the past – by making it partially refundable. As a result, the nearly one-fifth of high school seniors who receive no tax credit under the current system will receive a tax cut to make college affordable for the first time.
Makes college more affordable for 7 million students by increasing the maximum Pell Grant by $500, for a maximum of $5,350 in 2009 and $5,550 in 2010, and also funding the shortfall in the program.
Adds $490 million to the vital College Work-Study program that supports undergraduate and graduate students who work, allowing an additional 200,000 students to participate.
Also makes college more affordable by increasing the limit on unsubsidized Stafford loans by $2,000.
As the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities stated, “together these proposals mean that low-income students and families on the brink of stopping or dropping out of their higher education plans can stay in, and that unemployed workers can choose retraining for a new job.”
Today, the Ways and Means Committee provided an estimated $13.5 billion in tax relief to families and students for tuition and textbooks as a new development on H.R. 598, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. The tax credit of up to $2,500 can be used to defray the cost of tuition and related expenses paid during the taxable year. For the first time in American history, textbooks would be included in the higher education expenses that would be eligible for the tax credit. I have been an outspoken advocate for lower textbook costs and was successful in passing an amendment to last year’s College Opportunity and Affordability Act to create a pilot program that would allow students to rent textbooks at a fraction of the cost of buying them.
The skyrocketing cost of textbooks is crippling our students’ ability to afford higher education. I am proud to say that this legislation will help all Americans gain access to a college degree, which will help us all complete in the global economy. The American Opportunity Tax Credit would replace the Hope Tax Credit and the above-the-line tuition tax deduction for the next two years. For the first time, textbooks would be included in the higher education expenses that would be eligible for the tax credit. Forty percent of the tax credit – up to $1000 – would be refundable. This tax credit will be subject to a phase-out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for married couples filing jointly). This will provide an estimated $13.5 billion in tax relief.
President Barack Obama and Congress are on the same page. Our tax credits should go to helping average Americans improve their lives, and that is exactly what this legislation will do.
Dr. King once said, “Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge, to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”
This Monday, January, 19, 2009, I encourage all of you to get involved in the National Day of Service. I’m working with the University of Akron to promote a very positive service event. Here are the details:
Where: Volunteers will check in at Schrank Hall South Room 145 Date: January 19, 2009
Itinerary: 9:30 am. Check-In 10:00-10:30 Travel to Sites 10:30-1:30 Service 1:30-2:00 pm. Travel back to U of A
Parking: Volunteers can park in the Schrank Deck, the Exchange Lot, or the Student Union Visitors Parking. Dress: Dress casually in older clothes and shoes. You may encounter dirt or paint or both. Weather: Service projects will be available “rain, snow, or shine.” Important: Transportation to and from project sites will be provided. A FREE Pizza lunch will also be provided at the work sites. “Furnish Some Food”: We will be collecting canned vegetables or fruit for the Haven of Rest. Tasks: There are a variety of projects with a variety of organizations: sorting and organizing food/clothes, cleaning, working with people with mental/physical disabilities, and more.
Today in Congress, we will be considering H.R. 2, the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009. The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 is an updated version of the first bipartisan reauthorization bill vetoed by President Bush (H.R. 976). This new bill would reauthorize the CHIP program through Fiscal Year 2013, providing sufficient federal funds to enable states to maintain their current programs and extend them to 4 million additional uninsured low-income children.
The main provisions of this bill would include:
• Investing in New Funding for CHIP. The bill provides a four and a half year reauthorization (through FY 2013) of the Children’s Health Insurance Program to strengthen the program’s financing, increase health insurance coverage for low-income children, and improve the quality of health care children receive. • Lowering the Number of Uninsured Low-Income Children. The legislation will provide health coverage to an additional 4 million low-income children who are currently uninsured and will ensure that the 7 million children currently covered by CHIP continue to receive health coverage. • Improving Access to Benefits for Children (Dental Coverage/Mental Health Parity). Quality dental coverage will be provided to all children enrolled in CHIP. Coverage under CHIP will include mental health services to be provided on par with medical and surgical benefits covered under CHIP. • Prioritizing children’s coverage. The legislation makes several improvements in eligibility for CHIP. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) currently provides health insurance for 7 million children. The initial ten-year authorization of the program expired in September 2007. Two bipartisan reauthorization bills to extend and improve the program were presented to the President, who vetoed them both. We were able to pass a short-term extension of program, until April of 2009, but this funding was only enough to maintain current coverage and was insufficient to allow states to reach the six million low-income children who today are uninsured but eligible for coverage. According to today’s Washington Post, at least 43 states were facing budget deficits totaling about $140 billion (As of November 2008).
I strongly encourage my colleagues in joining my support for this legislation. Children’s health care is undoubtedly a priority for every American, and any support we can give to ensure that each child is covered is a necessity in the 111th Congress.
