The House of Representatives recently voted on legislation that is of paramount concern to future and present college students and their families. The bill that passed the House, despite opposition from many Democrats, missed an opportunity to increase college access and affordability and will have serious implications for the ability of millions of Americans to pay for college.
Every five years, Congress must renew the Higher Education Act, the law governing all aspects of the federal government's involvement in higher education, from student loans to Pell grants and other programs. The bill, H.R. 609, was debated for two days, from Wednesday, March 29 through Thursday, March 20. In the end, the bill passed by a vote of 221 to 199. The Senate has not yet begun debate on the bill.
Democrats, led by Representative George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the Committee, and Republicans, led by Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), have significant disagreements over this legislation. This site contains a variety of materials to help you navigate the often complex issues of higher education law.
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