Washington, DC (September 4, 2007) – Today, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), chair of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, was selected as a conferee on the conference committee that will complete work on H.R. 2669, The College Cost Reduction Act of 2007.

In July, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the College Cost Reduction Act, a historic initiative that would make the single largest investment in higher education in more than a generation. It would also make unprecedented investments in Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 

The conference committee is charged with reconciling differences between the House and the Senate versions of the bill. As a conferee, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa will be a key negotiator in efforts to formulate a final compromise between the two versions. After conference, the bill must be passed by both chambers before going to the president’s desk for approval.

“I will do everything in my power to make sure that Congress provides more first-generation, low-income students access to higher education,” said Hinojosa. “It is impetrative that we act now to ensure that our nation has enough qualified graduates to fuel its economy. I am confident that the final version of the College Cost Reduction Act will move us closer toward this goal.”