The House passed the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (H.R. 4137) today, by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 380-49. This vote gave final approval to an overhaul of our nation's higher education laws, 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 Higher Education Act was last reauthorized in 1998. The current law expired in 2003. The bill now moves to the Senate for final clearance before being sent to the President for his signature.
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. This measure addresses 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. It 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:
“This bill is crucial to the health of our economy and will ensure that more students graduate prepared for the 21st century workplace. 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.” -- Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness
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.
“This bill is crucial to the health of our economy and will ensure that more students graduate prepared for the 21st century workplace. 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.” -- Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness