Miller Praises Senate Passage of Major College Access Bill

Legislation Now Goes to President’s Desk

Thursday, July 31

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement tonight after the Senate passed legislation that overhauls and strengthens the nation’s higher education programs. The House overwhelmingly passed the bill earlier today by a vote of 380-49; it now goes to the president for his signature.

“I am delighted that the Senate has joined the House in swiftly passing this landmark legislation, and I want to commend Senators Kennedy, Mikulski, and Enzi for their leadership and commitment to this bipartisan bill. This legislation will empower America’s college consumers – students and families – by providing them with comprehensive information on tuition and textbook prices and key financial protections when paying for a college degree. For students and parents, who continue to face soaring college costs amidst rough economic times, these reforms could not come soon enough. I hope that the president will join our continuing efforts to make college more affordable and accessible by quickly signing this bill into law.”

Miller is one of the authors of the legislation, the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (H.R. 4137). The bill addresses rising college tuition prices, makes textbook costs more manageable, simplifies the federal student aid application process, provides new borrower protections on federal and private college loans, and much more. For more information, click here.

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