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The Higher Education Act Expanding College Access for Low and Middle-Income Students The College Access & Opportunity Act (H.R. 609) Bill Text of H.R. 609 - Rules Committee Print, March 22, 2006.(pdf) Manager's Amendment (pdf) Click here for bill summaries In 1965, the Higher Education Act was established to help low and middle-income students pursue higher education. Today, the federal government invests more than $70 billion in direct financial aid to students and families, and hundreds of millions of dollars are provided to colleges and universities so that they may better serve their students. Yet many resources within the Higher Education Act have increasingly been diverted from their original purpose of expanding access for students, and troubling cost increases have made clear that America's higher education system is not accountable enough to its consumers -- students and parents. In the 109th Congress, the Education & the Workforce Committee will work to reform the Higher Education Act through the principles of affordability, access, accountability, and quality, so that federal resources are once again focused on expanding college access for low and middle-income students.
The Higher Education Act
Expanding College Access for Low and Middle-Income Students
The College Access & Opportunity Act (H.R. 609)
Bill Text of H.R. 609 - Rules Committee Print, March 22, 2006.(pdf)
Manager's Amendment (pdf)
Click here for bill summaries
In 1965, the Higher Education Act was established to help low and middle-income students pursue higher education. Today, the federal government invests more than $70 billion in direct financial aid to students and families, and hundreds of millions of dollars are provided to colleges and universities so that they may better serve their students. Yet many resources within the Higher Education Act have increasingly been diverted from their original purpose of expanding access for students, and troubling cost increases have made clear that America's higher education system is not accountable enough to its consumers -- students and parents. In the 109th Congress, the Education & the Workforce Committee will work to reform the Higher Education Act through the principles of affordability, access, accountability, and quality, so that federal resources are once again focused on expanding college access for low and middle-income students.
Press Statements: Independent GAO Report Underscores Successful Public, Private Sector Efforts to Ease Transition of College Students into Armed Forces During Times of War - November 1, 2006 College Board Confirms Need for Sharper Focus on Accountability for Spikes in College Costs - October 24, 2006 U.S. House Education Committee Chairman McKeon Statement on Secretary Spellings' Speech on the Future of Higher Education - September 26, 2006 Higher Education, Entertainment Industry Witnesses Detail Impact of, Efforts to Combat Internet Piracy on College Campuses - September 26, 2006 House Education Leaders Highlight New Student Aid Report, Renew Calls for College Cost Solutions - September 13, 2006 Witnesses Assail Controversial U.S. Senate Proposal to Provide In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants - September 1, 2006 MEDIA ADVISORY: Controversial U.S. Senate Proposal to Provide In-State College Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Among Topics to be Examined FRIDAY in Greeley, Colorado - August 28, 2006 Education Committee Republicans Applaud Ongoing Efforts on Behalf of Gulf Coast Students - August 24, 2006 House Education & the Workforce Committee Chair Announces Series of Hearings on Key Immigration Issues Impacting Students, Workers - June 22, 2006 Democrats' Rhetoric Doesn't Match Their Record, Says Education & the Workforce Chair - June 14, 2006 McKeon Hails House Passage of Key Student Loan Borrower Benefit - June 13, 2006 Witnesses Highlight Innovative Private-Sector and Non-Profit Approaches to Enhance Student Aid, Bolster College Access - May 23, 2006 Statement of House Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman McKeon on Passage of House Budget Resolution - May 18, 2006 Committee Hears Testimony on Scope, Success of Federal Math and Science Programs - May 3, 2006 Labor, Education Secretaries Discuss Approaches to Enhancing American Competitiveness - April 6, 2006 House Backs Bill to Expand College Access, Enhance American Competitiveness - March 30, 2006 McKeon Praises Unanimous U.S. Supreme Court Ruling to Ensure Equal Access for Military Recruiters on College Campuses - March 6, 2006 Statement by Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner on Final Approval of the Deficit Reduction Act - February 1, 2006 Boehner Statement on House Passage of the Deficit Reduction Act - December 19, 2005 Hearing Examines How a Lack of Higher Education Faculty Contributes to America's Nursing Shortage - December 2, 2005 More Nursing Educators Needed to Address National Nursing Shortage, Witnesses Testify - November 30, 2005 Boehner Statement on Passage of the Deficit Reduction Act - November 18, 2005 Education Committee Approves Bill to Strengthen Higher Education, Protect Students & Taxpayers - October 26, 2005 New Report Echoes Uncertainty About True Costs of Government-Run Direct Student Loan Program - October 25, 2005 Boehner Outlines Plan to Strengthen Higher Education & Protect Worker Retirement Security - October 25, 2005 Boehner Blasts Special Interests for Distorting the Facts on Comprehensive Student Aid Reform - October 24, 2005 Boehner Criticizes the NEA for Spreading Misleading & Inaccurate Information on Republican Higher Education Reforms - October 20, 2005 Tuition Increases Continue, College Board Finds - October 18, 2005 Plan to Ease College Credit Mobility for Students Gains New Support - October 18, 2005 President Signs Key Higher Education Bills - October 7, 2005 House Approves Jindal Student Aid Bill to Support Students & Schools Impacted by Hurricanes - September 27, 2005 President Signs Higher Education Relief Bills for Students Impacted by Hurricane Katrina - September 21, 2005 House Extends Higher Education Programs & Student Loan Relief for Troops - September 20, 2005 House Approves Jindal Bill to Provide Higher Education Relief for Students Impacted by Hurricane Katrina - September, 8, 2005 House Approves Higher Education Relief for Students Impacted by Hurricane Katrina - September 7, 2005 Committee Approves Bill to Expand College Access, Strengthen Protections for Students and Taxpayers - July 22, 2005 Republicans Propose Math & Science Higher Education Package to Strengthen U.S. Competitiveness - July 22, 2005 Fiscally Irresponsible Proposal from House Democrats Would Harm Long-Term Health of Student Loan Programs, House Republican Leaders Say - July 21, 2005 House Republican Leaders Outline New Options & Greater Flexibility for Consolidation Loan Borrowers - July 21, 2005 Republican College Access Bill Strengthens Educational Opportunities for Members & Veterans of the Armed Forces - July 20, 2005 Osborne Proposes Student Loan Relief for Active Duty Military Personnel - July 20, 2005 Subcommittee Approves Bill to Reform & Strengthen Higher Education Act - July 14, 2005 Subcommittee Adopts Foxx Amendment to Strengthen Student Privacy Protections in Higher Education Reform Bill - July 13, 2005 Republicans Propose Teacher Recognition Pay Initiative in Higher Education Act - July 13, 2005 Opening Statement by Subcommittee Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon on College Access and Opportunity Act - July 13, 2005 Statement by Chairman John Boehner on College Access and Opportunity Act - July 13, 2005 Education Subcommittee Set to Consider Bill to Reform & Strengthen Federal Higher Education Programs - July 11, 2005 House Republicans, Education Secretary Agree to Permanently End Excess Subsidies Under Federal Student Loan Programs - July 8, 2005 House Republican Leaders Propose New Options & Greater Flexibility for Consolidation Loan Borrowers - July 7, 2005 Key House Republicans Welcome Consensus Agreement on ‘Academic Bill of Rights’ - June 23, 2005 Subcommittee Approves Tiberi Bills to Strengthen International and Graduate Programs in Higher Education - June 16, 2005 Schools, Businesses Can Do More to Strengthen American Competitiveness in Math & Science, Witnesses Tell Congress - May 19, 2005 Kline Reintroduces Bill to Waive Student Loan Obligations for U.S. Troops - May 5, 2005 College Credit Mobility Can & Should be Improved to Expand Opportunities for Students, Witnesses Tell Congress - May 5, 2005 Hispanic Serving Institutions of Higher Education Expand College Access, Field Hearing Shows - May 2, 2005 Federally-Funded International and Foreign Language Studies Programs Important to American Competitiveness, Security, Field Hearing Finds - April 22, 2005 Government Spending is Contributing to College Price Inflation, Economist Tells Congress - April 19, 2005 Boehner, McKeon Call Attention to New Report Showing Distance Education Can Expand Access to Higher Education - April 12, 2005 Systems to Track International Students at American Colleges and Universities are Improving, Witnesses Tell Congress - March 18, 2005 Statement by House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH) on Proposed Expansion of President Clinton’s Direct Loan Program - March 15, 2005 Independent Government Accountability Office Repeats Warnings About Cost of Consolidation Loan Program, Continues to Recommend Variable Interest Rates - March 10, 2005 House Education Leaders Call Attention to PricewaterhouseCoopers Study Showing Clinton Direct Loan Program Has Significant Hidden Costs for Taxpayers - March 3, 2005 Hearing Shows Proprietary School Students are Not Treated Fairly under Current Higher Education Law; Anti-Fraud Laws Must Be Vigorously Enforced as Reforms are Made, Witnesses Tell Congress - March 1, 2005 Statement of Rep. John Boehner on Effectiveness and Enforcement of Anti-Fraud Laws in For-Profit Education - March 1, 2005 Committee to Hold Hearing March 1st on Enforcement of Federal Anti-Fraud Laws in For-Profit Education; Hearing to Examine Whether Students at Proprietary Schools are Adequately Served and Protected under Current Federal Law - February 16, 2005 Education Committee Republicans Introduce College Access Legislation - February 2, 2005 Committee Leaders Ask Advisory Committee to Redraft Student Aid Report; Current Draft of Document Does Not Explain How Proposals Would Be Paid For, Despite Congressional Requests - January 21, 2005 House & Senate Budget, Education, and Government Reform Leaders Seeking Independent GAO Report on Hidden Costs of Direct Student Loan Program - January 13, 2005 House Democrats Introduce Bill to Add Millions to Pell Budget Shortfall, Further Delay Hopes for Increase in Maximum Pell Grant Award - January 5, 2005 Op-Ed by John Boehner (R-OH): Proposal for Federal Database to Track Students Is Off-Base: As Published by the Chronicle of Higher Education - June 1, 2005 Bill Summaries: H.R. 609, the College Access & Opportunity Act - UPDATED: March 20, 2006 H.R. 511, the Pell Grants Plus Act - March 15, 2006 H.R. 510, the Graduate Opportunities in Higher Education Act - March 15, 2006 H.R. 509, the International Studies in Higher Education Act - March 15, 2006 H.R. 508, the FED UP Act (Upping the Effectiveness of Our Federal Student Aid Programs) - March 15, 2006 Fact Sheets: An Overlooked Benefit of the Pension Protection Act: More Help in Paying for College - September 5, 2006 Fixed Rate Flip-Flops: Democrats and “Student Advocates” on the Fixed 6.8% Student Loan Interest Rate - April 25, 2006 On Student Aid and College Access, House Democrats Offer Words while House Republicans Offer ACTION - April 25, 2006 The College Access & Opportunity Act: Top Ten Reforms to Protect the Interests of Students, Parents, and Taxpayers - April 12, 2006 Enhancing American Competitiveness - April 6, 2006 Expanding College Access for Low- and Middle-Income Students: The College Access & Opportunity Act (H.R. 609) - March 20, 2006 Strengthening the TRIO College Access Programs - March 20, 2006 The Academic Bill of Rights: Protecting Student Speech and Association - March 20, 2006 Strengthening International Studies: The Title VI International Education Advisory Board - March 15, 2006 The Deficit Reduction Act: Strengthening & Reforming Student Loans - February 8, 2006 Bush Administration Support: Spellings Praises House Committee Action on Higher Education - July 22, 2005 Dear Colleague Letters: The Congressional Commitment to Education Resources for Reform - September 12, 2006 Front-Page News: Graduates are Entering the Best College Hiring Market in Years - May 17, 2006 Exposing the Democrat Higher Ed Substitute Gimmick - March 30, 2006 Private Colleges Remove Opposition to H.R. 609, Pledge Ongoing Work with Members - March 30, 2006 Drumbeat of Support Continues for the College Access & Opportunity Act - March 30, 2006 Political Motives Exposed by the "Raid on Student Aid" Charade - March 29, 2006 Exposing Last-Minute Myths on Higher Education Reform - March 29, 2006 Enhance Transparency in Higher Education - March 29, 2006 The College Affordability Index: Providing Families with More Information on Rising College Costs than Ever Before - March 28, 2006 Support Builds for College Access & Opportunity Act - March 28, 2006 Separating Myth from Fact: Exposing the Empty Rhetoric of Higher Education Reform's Opponents - March 28, 2006 Stop the Federal Proposal to Track College Students' Personal Information - March 27, 2006 Bolster the Three Pillars of Higher Education: Access, Accountability, and Affordability - March 27, 2006 Reward Success in Closing the Achievement Gap - March 24, 2006 Expand College Access for Low- and Middle-Income Students - March 23, 2006 The Academic Bill of Rights: Protecting Student Speech and Association - March 23, 2006 The College Access & Opportunity Act (H.R. 609): Protecting the Interests of Students, Parents, and Taxpayers - March 22, 2006 Restore the Higher Education Act to its Original Mission - March 22, 2006 Democrat Scare Tactics Again Distort the Facts on Student Loan Reform - November 8, 2005 Budget Proposal Strengthens Federal Student Aid Programs, Provides New Benefits for Students - November 3, 2005 Budget Proposals Strengthen Higher Education & Protect Pensions on Behalf of Students, Workers, Retirees & Taxpayers - November 1, 2005 Republican Proposals Strengthen Higher Education Programs on Behalf of Students & Taxpayers - October 26, 2005 Easing the Financial Aid Process for Students & Schools Impacted by Hurricane Katrina - September 13, 2005 Restore Fairness in Federal Student Aid; Treat All Students Fairly By Supporting H.R.609, The College Access & Opportunity Act - September 12, 2005 Higher Education Relief for Students & Schools Impacted by Hurricane Katrina - September 8, 2005 Assistance for Students & Schools Impacted by Hurricane Katrina: Higher Education - September 6, 2005 Target Student Financial Aid to Students with the Greatest Financial Need - August 31, 2005 Government-Run Direct Loan Program's Credibility Gap is Growing - July 18, 2005 Reward Teachers & Principals with Recognition Pay - July 14, 2005 Helping Students & Graduates: The FACTS About Republican Proposals to Strengthen Student Loans - July 13, 2005 Expand College Access for Low- and Middle- Income Students - July 13, 2005 TAXPAYER BEWARE: Clinton Direct Loan Program Has Huge Hidden Costs, PricewaterhouseCoopers Study Suggests - March 3, 2005 Committee Hearings and Markups: On May 23, 2006, the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness held a hearing on "Paying for College: Innovative Private-Sector Proposals to Complement Record Federal Investment in Student Aid" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On July 20-22, 2005, the Full Committee held a markup of H.R. 609, the College Access & Opportunity Act. The bill was approved by a vote of 27-20, 1 present - Opening Statements and Related Documents On July 13-14, 2005, the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness held a markup of H.R. 609, the College Access & Opportunity Act. The bill was approved by a vote of 18-15 - Opening Statements and Related Documents On June 16, 2005, the Subcommittee on Select Education held a markup of H.R. 509, the International Studies in Higher Education Act. The bill was approved by voice vote - Opening Statements and Related Documents On June 16, 2005, the Subcommittee on Select Education held a markup of H.R. 510, the Graduate Opportunities in Higher Education Act. The bill was approved by voice vote - Opening Statements and Related Documents On May 19, 2005, the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness held a hearing on "Challenges to American Competitiveness in Math and Science" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On May 5, 2005, the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness held a hearing on "College Credit Mobility: Can Transfer of Credit Policies be Improved?" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On May 2, 2005, the Subcommittee on Select Education held a field hearing in Edinburg, Texas on "Expanding Opportunities for Graduate Study at Hispanic Serving Institutions" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On April 22, 2005, the Subcommittee on Select Education held a field hearing in Columbus, Ohio on "International Education and Foreign Language Studies in Higher Education" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On April 19, 2005, the Full Committee held a hearing on "College Access: Is Government Part of the Solution, or Part of the Problem?" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On March 17, 2005, the Subcommittees on 21st Century Competitiveness and Select Education held a joint hearing on "Tracking International Students in Higher Education: A Progress Report" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony On March 1, 2005, the Full Committee held a hearing on "Enforcement of Federal Anti-Fraud Laws in For-Profit Education" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony Click HERE for information on this issue in the 108th Congress (2003-2004)
Press Statements:
Op-Ed by John Boehner (R-OH):
Bill Summaries:
Fact Sheets:
An Overlooked Benefit of the Pension Protection Act: More Help in Paying for College - September 5, 2006
Fixed Rate Flip-Flops: Democrats and “Student Advocates” on the Fixed 6.8% Student Loan Interest Rate - April 25, 2006
On Student Aid and College Access, House Democrats Offer Words while House Republicans Offer ACTION - April 25, 2006
The Deficit Reduction Act: Strengthening & Reforming Student Loans - February 8, 2006
Bush Administration Support:
Dear Colleague Letters:
Committee Hearings and Markups:
Click HERE for information on this issue in the 108th Congress (2003-2004)
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