U.S. House Education Committee Chairman McKeon Statement on Secretary Spellings’ Speech on the

Future of Higher Education

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following today’s remarks by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, which followed last week’s formal release of the Secretary of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education report, U.S. House Education Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) issued the following statement:

“Secretary Spellings’ creation of this Commission a year ago provided a valuable resource as all of us – from public officials to educators to employers – seek to ensure that our higher education system is prepared to meet the needs of a changing economy.  I am eager to review the findings of this report to the Secretary in the weeks to come.  As she and I have discussed, I expect the Department to work cooperatively with Congress in making decisions about the implementation of Commission recommendations. 

“I am particularly interested in examining the panel’s findings and recommendations on the college cost crisis.  We know all too well that even though the federal investment in higher education has reached record levels, college costs have risen at an even more dramatic pace.  During this year’s reauthorization effort, the House has taken the first fundamental steps toward dealing with the spike in college costs, and as we move forward, I am optimistic that the Commission’s work on this issue will complement our efforts.

“As I’ve talked with the Secretary about the Commission’s work, I’ve expressed to her my deep appreciation for the diverse nature of the panel.  The Secretary and the men and women who spent the last year working on this report recognize that the future of higher education cannot be considered in the same manner as it had been in the past.  As we confront the new realities of a 21st Century global economy and strive to remain competitive with our counterparts worldwide, a close relationship between policymakers, the traditional higher education community, and employers is critical.  The Commission’s work is a reflection of that, and I applaud their time and their commitment to the future of higher education.”