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Washington, DC -- Today Congressman David Wu continued his efforts to bring U.S. college textbook pricing into line. The U.S. House Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, of which Congressman Wu is a member, held a hearing on college textbook pricing, entitled "Are College Textbooks Priced Fairly?" Congressman Wu has introduced a bill (H.R. 3567) to require the General Accounting Office to study the issue of textbook pricing. At Congressman Wu's request the GAO is currently investigating the drastic rise in the price of textbooks.
"Oregon college students often pay double what overseas students pay for identical textbooks," said Congressman David Wu. "The pricing practices of the college textbook industry defies common sense and that is why I have asked the GAO to investigate."
Witnesses at today's hearing will discuss the findings of a new report released by the California Student Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) entitled “RIPOFF 101 - How the Current Practices of the Textbook Industry Drive up the Cost of College Textbooks.” The hearing will also question whether college textbooks are priced fairly, and examine what impact the cost of textbooks has on the cost of college in America. |
