Bipartisan College Access Bill Wins Final House Approval, Sets Stage for First Higher Education Renewal in a Decade

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. House of Representatives today gave final approval to an overhaul of our nation’s higher education laws today, advancing key reforms that would address the soaring price of college and remove other obstacles that make it harder for qualified students to go to college.

The bill, the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (H.R. 4137), was passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 380-49. It now moves to the Senate for final clearance before being sent to the President for his signature.

“Today’s students face daunting obstacles on the path to college, from skyrocketing tuition prices to predatory student lending tactics. This landmark bipartisan legislation will address these challenges and create a higher education system that is more consumer-friendly, fairer, and easier-to-navigate,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “Already, this Congress has taken historic steps to make college more affordable and accessible. With today’s vote, we are saying that in our nation’s higher education programs, the needs of students and families must always come first.”

“This bill is a real victory for college students and their families.  It puts quality information in the hands of consumers and takes meaningful steps to hold down the college cost increases that are threatening students’ ability to pursue their higher education dreams,” said the Committee’s Senior Republican, U.S. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA).  “I applaud today’s bipartisan vote, and look forward to this bill’s swift enactment.”

“This bill is crucial to the health of our economy and will ensure that more students graduate prepared for the 21^st century workplace,” said U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. “It puts smart strategies in place to improve our student aid process, restore confidence in our student loan programs, and provide more low-income, first-generation, and minority students the chance to pursue a college education.”

“I am thrilled at the passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the first reauthorization of the Higher Education Act in 10 years. This important legislation will allow our nation's students year-round Pell Grants.  It also includes my legislation to curb wasteful spending by closing a loophole that allowed convicted child predators to receive federal financial aid to take college courses, so today the most wasteful spending program in America comes to an end,” said U.S. Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL), the Senior Republican on the Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee.

An October 2007 report from the College Board showed that tuition and fees have increased across the board over the last five years, at public and private colleges and at two-year and four-year colleges. These increases have consistently outpaced increases in the rate of inflation and in families’ ability to pay, creating a college cost crisis that threatens to prevent qualified students from pursuing a higher education. 

The bill would address these affordability challenges by encouraging colleges to rein in price increases, ensuring that states maintain their commitments to higher education funding, and providing students and families with consumer-friendly information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases.

Consistent with the bill’s focus on consumer empowerment through sunshine and transparency, 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.

In addition, the Higher Education Opportunity Act would:

• Streamline the federal student financial aid application process;
• 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 programs;
• 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.

The Higher Education Act was last reauthorized in 1998. The current law expired in 2003.

For more information on the Higher Education Opportunity Act, click here.

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