WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps joined an overwhelming bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives to approve final legislation that would address the soaring price of college tuition and remove other obstacles that make it harder for qualified students to go to college.

By a vote of 380 to 49, the House approved the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137), which would reform and strengthen the nation’s higher education programs to ensure that they operate in the best interests of students and families. The legislation builds on the Democratic Congress efforts to make college more affordable and accessible for all qualified students. Last year, Congress enacted into law a $20 billion increase in college financial aid over the next five years, the largest increase in student aid since the G.I. Bill of 1944.

The Senate is also expected to take a final vote on the legislation this week; if passed the bill would then be sent to the President’s desk for his signature.

“I’m so pleased that we are passing this critical legislation that recognizes the importance of a college education,” said Capps.  “As American families struggle in this challenging economy and education costs continue to rapidly rise, we need to do all that we can to ensure that a higher education is affordable and accessible for all Americans.  For too long students and their families have struggled to meet the rapidly rising costs of a higher education while federal student aid has remained virtually stagnant and insufficient to help cover these increased costs.  Additionally, students seeking financial aid faced cumbersome paperwork and confusing information on loans and college costs.  I am pleased to report that this bill increases Pell Grants to $8,000 over the next few years and provides up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness for students who pursue high need public service careers such as nurses, teachers, policemen and more.  The bill also simplifies the student aid application process and requires more transparency from colleges and lender institutions regarding tuition and loan costs.  Finally, this legislation also helps low-income and minority students by strengthening important outreach and college prep programs like GEAR UP and TRIO.”

An October 2007 report from the College Board showed that, over the previous five years, tuition and fees had increased across the board, at public and private colleges and at two-year and four-year colleges. In California, tuition and fees at four year public Universities grew by 9% percent between 2006-07 and 2007-8. The bill would address these rising prices by encouraging colleges to rein in price increases, ensuring that states maintain their commitments to higher education funding, providing students and families with consumer friendly information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases, and streamlining the federal student financial aid application process.

The legislation also strengthens provisions previously approved by the House to avoid conflicts of interest in the student loan programs. The bill’s new provisions include requiring better consumer disclosures and protections on private student loans. Together these protections form a Bill of Rights for college consumers, said Congresswoman Capps.

“It’s critical for students and their families who are making a huge financial investment in their education – and their future – to have every confidence that they are being treated fairly by their lenders and their schools,” said Capps.  “This ‘Bill of Rights’ for college consumers provides much needed safeguards so that students can rest assured that they are getting a good deal on their education costs.”

In addition, the Higher Education Opportunity Act would:

*      Make textbook costs more manageable for students by, among other things, helping them plan for textbook expenses in advance of each semester;

*      Allow students to receive year-round Pell Grant scholarships;

*      Strengthen college readiness and support programs for minority and low-income students;

*      Increase college aid and support programs for veterans and military families;

*      Improve safety on college campuses and help schools recover and rebuild after a disaster;

*      Ensure equal college opportunities and fair learning environments for students with disabilities; and

*      Strengthen our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness by boosting science, technology, and foreign language educational opportunities.

H.R. 4137 is a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the primary federal law aimed at expanding college access for low- and middle-income students If enacted, this would be the first time the Higher Education Act was reauthorized since 1998. The current law expired in 2003.

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.