More than forty years ago, Congress enacted the Higher Education Act to make college more accessible for low and middle-income students. I recently supported a House-passed measure called the College Access and Opportunity Act, which updates higher education policy. 

This legislation will strengthen and improve our nation's higher education system by expanding college access for low and middle-income students. Some of the ways the bill will accomplish this include reauthorizing student aid programs and graduate study programs; reducing red tape for students and graduates; and empowering parents and teachers with tools to track tuition increases and make more informed decisions in their college spending.  

The bill boosts math and science education to enhance American competitiveness by improving teacher training programs to ensure there are well-qualified teachers in the classroom. It also creates incentives for students who pursue degrees in math, science and foreign languages. 

One of the key components of the College Access and Opportunity Act is a boost to the maximum amount of aid awarded through the Pell Grant program, a federally sponsored program that provides grants based on need to undergraduate students. Another program, called Pell Grant Plus, will provide even more help to lower and middle-income students who want to go to college. 

The bill also calls for the availability of year-round Pell Grant aid to encourage students to complete their studies more efficiently. Additionally, it repeals the federal rule that needlessly limits the amount of Pell Grant aid that a student attending a very low cost school may receive. 

I think one of the most innovative measures contained in the bill is a tool called a College Affordability Index, which provides information to parents and students so they are empowered to make the best decisions about their college choices. This index, which works a lot like the Consumer Price Index, provides information about college costs, as well as providing an "apples to apples" comparison of tuition growth.  

This legislation also cuts through the red tape for students and graduates by enhancing the benefits of the federal consolidation loan program by repealing a federal rule, called the "single holder rule," that limits consumers' ability to shop for the best deal on a consolidation loan. Consumers will now have more freedom to shop around for lenders that offer better terms and services, while ensuring the original holder of their loans can and must compete to retain the loan. 

Education is the key to maintaining our competitive edge in the global marketplace, and we need to do all that we can to make college more accessible and affordable. This important legislation empowers students and their parents by helping to provide them with some tools they need to achieve the dream of a college education.