Washington, DC (February 07, 2008) – Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness, today applauded the passage of legislation that would address the skyrocketing cost of college and open the doors of higher education to more students that ever before.
The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, introduced by Hinojosa and Rep. George Miller (D-CA), was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives Thursday evening. The bill would strengthen the nation’s higher education programs and make college more affordable and accessible for America’s low-income and minority students.
The legislation also contains measures to curb the skyrocketing cost of college. A recent report released by the College Board revealed that tuition and fees at four-year public institutions in Texas increased by 8 percent – after inflation – over the last two years. On average, college costs have risen nearly 40 percent in the last five years.
“Students are graduating with more debt than ever before and many are skipping college altogether because they don’t believe they can afford it,” said Hinojosa. “It is high time we restore consumer confidence and increase accessibility to our higher education system.”
“The health of our nation depends on our ability to prepare our students for the 21st century economy. We need smart strategies that will boost our educated workforce and secure our competitive edge for years to come,” continued Hinojosa. “This bill answers these challenges by expanding educational opportunities and preparing more college graduates who are ready to fuel our globalized workplace.”
The College Opportunity and Affordability Act is a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, the primary law aimed at expanding college access for low- and middle-income students. It was first signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson as a part of his Great Society domestic agenda.
The College Opportunity and Affordability Act Will:
Rein in Skyrocketing College Prices
Over the past several months, American families have been bombarded with reports of rising tuitions costs. The legislation passed today would supply more transparency to the system and provide students with a consumer-friendly website containing information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases.
Hinojosa also noted that the bill would encourage states maintain their commitment to funding higher education. States that don't provide enough money for higher education could lose federal dollars. At the same time, the bill would provide incentives, such as additional need-based aid, to keep their prices in check.
Restore Consumer Confidence
Troubling revelations about the student loan industry prompted Hinojosa and other lawmakers to include protections to clean up corrupt practices in student loan programs and safeguard students from aggressive lender marketing practices. The bill requires better consumer disclosures and protections on private student loans. It also provides students with information about their borrowing options when taking out and repaying student loans, no matter if the loans are federal or private. It promotes financial education about lending practices for students and families.
Increase and Simplify College Access and Affordability
The legislation would increase the authorized Pell grant maximum to $9,000, a boost which would help thousands of low-income students afford a college education. The bill streamlines FAFSA, the notoriously complicated federal student aid application process. It also creates an easy-to-navigate two-page FAFSA-EZ form for low-income families.
Expand Access for Low-Income and Minority Students
Hispanics continue to have the lowest levels of education attainment of any group in the country. Hispanic students earn only 6 % of bachelor’s degrees, 4 % of master’s degrees, and 3 % of doctor’s degrees. To address these dismal statistics, Hinojosa was able to include several initiatives to boost Hispanic student achievement, including the first ever $125 million authorization to establish graduate programs at Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs). HSIs enroll almost half of all Hispanic college students.
Hinojosa also successfully boosted the authorization for undergraduate HSI programs to $175 million. This increase would directly affect UT-Pan American, Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, and 42 other HSIs in Texas.
Increase Opportunities for our Veterans
Currently, 95 percent of Armed services personnel sign up for the GI Bill when they enlist. Nearly 440,000 service members are expected to seek its benefits this year, which represents a 21 percent increase from 2001. This legislation recognizes America’s collective obligation to the men and women returning from war and seeking to resume their lives. It establishes a new scholarship program for veterans and their families. It ensures fairness for veterans in student aid. It also authorizes Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success to provide a one-stop support system on campus to help veterans succeed in college and graduate.
Boost America’s Competitiveness
The impact of UT-Pan American’s HESTEC program may soon be felt well beyond the Rio Grande Valley. The annual science and technology conference, which draws over 30,000 participants every year, was the inspiration for a $10 million federal grant program in the bill that will enable the creation of similar models at Minority-serving Institutions around the nation. The goal of the program would be to encourage young people, especially minorities, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. The bill would strengthen our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness by boosting foreign language educational opportunities.
###