This legislation comes on the heels of $12 billion in cuts to federal student aid programs – cuts that I voted against three times and the largest cuts in the history of the program.  Additionally, this legislation comes just one week before Congress is expected to vote on the President’s Fiscal Year 2007 proposed budget which fully eliminates 42 Department of Education programs.  While the President claims to be committed to strengthening American competitiveness in today’s global economy, the President’s proposed FY2007 budget freezes the maximum Pell Grant for the fifth year in a row and denies more than 460,000 students low-cost college loans.  Since 2001 alone, the average price of tuition for a four year college education has risen by 40 percent; however, college students have received almost no additional assistance to overcome the rapidly rising costs.

This week, I voted in support of an alternative to the Higher Education Reauthorization Act.  This alternative would have cut interest rates in half for students with subsidized loans and create a predominantly Black Servings Institution program to boost college participation rates of low-income black students, repeal the anti-consumer single holder rule, and create a pilot program for year round Pell Grants. 

As the son of public school educators, I understand the vital role higher education plays in keeping America’s future on the cutting edge of today’s rapidly changing world.  The pursuit of education should not be limited to those with the means to afford the prohibitive and mounting cost of a public education.  I will continue to support programs to make a higher education accessible and affordable to all students who aim for a brighter future.

“I am honored to receive this prestigious award from the National Association of Community Health Centers,” said Ross. “As a Member of Congress who represents a rural district, I understand the vital role that community health centers play in our communities. For many, these centers are the only places families can go to get the health services they need. These centers are extremely important in providing health care services to the uninsured and the low-income in rural areas. I will continue to support the needs of community health centers in Congress.” 

Ross is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which has jurisdiction over many health care issues before Congress.  The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is the national trade association which serves and represents the interests of America’s community health centers. Health centers provide services for the working poor, the uninsured, as well as the high-risk and vulnerable populations. Today, NACHC’s programs reach over 15 million people in 3,600 communities throughout the country including over 100,000 Arkansans. For more information on NACHC, visit http://www.nachc.com.