Musgrave Brings National Education Leader To Colorado To Assess Fed Student Aid & Impacts of Illegal Immigration On Tuition and Employment
Washington,
Sep 1 -
As Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (CO-04) continues to concentrate on helping students access college loans and the impacts illegal immigration are having on education and employment, today she held two events with the leader in the U.S. Congress on education and workforce policies. Chairman Buck McKeon, of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, came to Colorado today at the request of Musgrave to give local residents a chance to share their input.
Congresswoman Musgrave started the day by holding an official congressional field hearing, at the University of Northern Colorado, regarding the availability of federal aid for college students and the cost to taxpayers of providing in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.
The Congresswoman followed up the hearing by holding a panel discussion, in Loveland, with local business leaders on the success of the current national volunteer program to verify that current employees and newly hired workers are legal.
“Congress’s investment in federal student aid programs is greater than ever before. Just this year, Congress took bold action to expand access to college, restore programs efficiency and invest tens-of-billions of dollars in direct student aid,” said Musgrave. “I was interested in the input from witnesses regarding in-state tuition for illegal immigrants and the ill-conceived bill passed in the Senate written by Ted Kennedy, which I oppose because it is unfair to legal immigrants and out-of-state U.S. citizens who pay the full cost of tuition.
“The practice of hiring illegal immigrants is a serious concern discussed today,” continued Musgrave. “I support the House-passed bill that provides local businesses with access to a safe, secure program that will accurately inform them on the legal status of current employees and potential new workers. It is important to put this information on the record and I will continue to provide Colorado residents a chance to share their concerns with decision makers from our nation’s capitol. I appreciate Chairman McKeon’s willingness to accept my request to come to Colorado and hear directly from local residents.”
For four years, Musgrave has been an active member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and this is the third official congressional field hearing she has brought to Colorado on specifically on education issues.
On the national level, each of these topics are currently under intense debate at this time as the U.S. House and Senate work to resolve stark differences between their respective immigration reform bills and as students return to college for fall semester.
# # # Marilyn Musgrave began serving in the United States House of Representatives in January 2003, and she represents Colorado's Fourth Congressional District. Musgrave is a member of the House Committees on Agriculture, Education and the Workforce, Resources, and Small Business. To learn more about Rep. Musgrave please visit her official website at http://www.house.gov/musgrave.
