U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings this evening issued the following statement on Congressional reauthorization of the Higher Education Act:

"I congratulate Congress for its hard work in concluding the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which seeks to tackle many complex and challenging issues that are vexing to students and their families, as well as to institutions. The Administration supports many of the bill's provisions, which are designed to enact needed reforms and address the problems facing colleges, students and families in the 21st Century. However we remain concerned with the creation of more than 60 new, costly, and duplicative programs.

Higher education has been a priority for this Administration. In 2005, my bipartisan Commission on the Future of U.S. Higher Education launched a robust national dialogue on the need to strengthen higher education to remain competitive in today's knowledge-based global economy. One year later, the Spellings Commission issued a comprehensive report that, among other things, cited specific recommendations to make higher education more accessible, more affordable, and more accountable.

While the legislation takes some positive steps forward, it fails to create the necessary reforms in accessibility and affordability, and it falls short on strengthening accountability. More work can—and must—be done to make achievement outcomes more transparent to students and families.

For the sake of students who are committed to achieving their dreams through the pursuit of higher education, we must remain vigilant in advancing policies that support their goals. This bill represents another important step but we still have a long way to go."

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