Spotlight on College Costs In an effort to gather feedback about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221), Rep. Welch convened a financial aid roundtable with Vermont students, educators and parents at Vermont Technical College in September 2009. Following the meeting, Welch successfully amended the legislation to ensure non-profit lenders like the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation can continue providing valuable services like college counseling, career placement and financial aid. The bill, which passed the House later that month, provides the single largest investment in college financial aid in history, expands early education opportunities and supports community colleges.

"For too many Vermonters, the tools to succeed in today’s economy are simply out of reach. In order to expand the opportunity created by a college education, Congress must continue to increase financial aid to students. At the same time, institutions of higher learning must do their part to bring costs under control and ensure that ever-increasing college costs are not outpacing the ability of middle class families to afford them. Only through the combination of controlling college costs and increasing aid will we succeed in making higher education more affordable to Vermonters."

P.S. Click here for financial aid information for Vermont students.

Rep. Welch's Recent Work on College Costs

vtdigger: 'Welch plan links curbing college tuition growth with regulatory relief'

September 26, 2012

Congressman Peter Welch frequently says that he thinks Congress is dysfunctional. He repeated the criticism at a press conference this week, in this case while explaining his latest legislative proposal to control the cost of college tuition.Flanked by a parent, a student and Don Vickers, president of the Vermont Student Assistance Corp. (VSAC), Welch said that "Congress has contributed to the problem. We have an obligation to contribute to the solution."The pro... Read More

Photo Album: 'Rep. Wech Announces Legislation to Curb College Tuition Costs'

September 24, 2012

 

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Welch announces legislation to curb college tuition costs

September 24, 2012

Joined by students and families at the University of Vermont, Rep. Peter Welch today announced legislation to reduce the regulatory burden on colleges and universities and curb rising tuition costs, which ballooned by 8.3 percent last year.

“A college education is the clearest path to the American middle class,” Welch said. “But rapidly rising tuition costs are narrowing that path for middle class families. This legisla... Read More

Burlington Free Press: 'Welch calls for legislation to contain college costs'

September 24, 2012

College attendance is often portrayed these days as a key to membership in the middle class, a point that U.S. Rep. Peter Welch was eager to reiterate Monday.

That's a key, he said, that families of moderate means are increasingly hard-pressed to afford, so he has drafted a bill to that he hopes will ease their burden.

The occasion was a news conference at which Welch announced his intent ... Read More

New England Cable News: 'Vt. Rep. Welch targets tuition costs in new legislation'

September 24, 2012

Student Claudia Abbiati said she worries about the seemingly constant rise in college costs. "It's scary. It's stressful," she told NECN. "If I could have one wish, it would be that it would stop; stop increasing so much every year."

The University of Vermont senior is studying to become a speech pathologist, and predicted she'll graduate with nearly $20,000 in debt, even after working two jobs and applying for as many schola... Read More

• June 29, 2012 — Welch statement on successful effort to block doubling of Stafford Student Loan interest rate

• June 19, 2012 — New York Times: 'Debit Cards on Campus'

• June 12, 2012 — Welch demands end to large bank fees on student debit and prepaid cards

• June 11, 2012 — vt.Buzz: 'Clock is ticking as Congress wrestles over student loan rate deal'

• June 8, 2012 — VPR: ' Welch Pushing For Bipartisan Effort To Reduce Budget Deficit'

• June 1, 2012 — Rutland Herald: 'Thousands call in to Welch meeting on student loans'

• May 9, 2012 — Boston Globe: 'Vermont delegation laments loan bill defeat'

• May 9, 2012 — At pivotal moment, Welch brings Vermont student loan debt stories to Congress

• May 1, 2012 — Rutland Herald: 'Debt collector: Welch gathers students’ stories'

• April 30, 2012 — At UVM, Welch issues call for student debt stories to educate Congress

• April 30, 2012 — Burlington Free Press: 'Welch listens to University of Vermont students' debt stories'

• April 30, 2012 — vtdigger: 'Welch listens to students’ debt concerns'

• April 30, 2012 — Boston Globe: 'Vt. US Rep. Welch collects student debt stories'

• April 30, 2012 — Photo Album: 'Rep. Welch issues call for student debt stories to educate Congress'

• April 27, 2012 — New York Times: 'House Passes Student Loan Bill Despite Veto Threat'

• April 21, 2012 — Valley News: 'Students In Debt: Rep. Welch on Affordable Loans"

• April 17, 2012 — Associated Press: 'Welch trying to stop student loan interest hike'

• April 17, 2012 — Burlington Free Press: 'Rep. Welch, students oppose loan-rate increase'

• April 17, 2012 — Rutland Herald: 'Debt peonage'

• April 16, 2012 — Photo Album: 'Rep. Welch works to block doubling of student loan interest rates set for July 1st'

• April 16, 2012 — Welch works to block doubling of student loan interest rates set for July 1st

• April 16, 2012 — WCAX: 'Rep. Welch has plan for student loan interest'

• September 27, 2011 — Bennington Banner: 'CCV awarded $2.5M grant to train for jobs'

• September 26, 2011 — Community College of Vermont Wins $2.5 Million

• May 11, 2011 — The Burlington Free Press: 'Rep. Welch promotes health care provision'

• April 28, 2011 — Delegation Preserves a Role, Secures Funds for VSAC

• March 23, 2011 — Welch statement on announcement by UVM President Fogel

• February 18, 2010 — Times Argus: "Welch brings federal giftbasket to CCV"

• February 17, 2010 — Welch secures funding for Community College of Vermont job-training program

• September 17, 2009 — Video: Rep. Welch offers amendment to support VSAC

• September 17, 2009 — Welch supports, House passes bill to make college more affordable to middle class families

• September 2, 2009 — Welch tackles college affordability at financial aid roundtable

• April 6, 2009 — Welch seeks funding for 29 Vermont projects

• September 8, 2008 — Welch opening statement from college endowment roundtable with Sen. Grassley

• September 4, 2008 — Grassley, Welch release participant list for Monday’s college endowment roundtable

• September 4, 2008 — College Endowment Roundtable Information

• August 26, 2008 — Grassley, Welch announce college endowment roundtable

• July 31, 2008 — Welch provision on college affordability bill clears House

• March 27, 2008 — Leahy, Welch announce CLEAN Grant program for Vt. colleges

• March 3, 2008 — Welch discusses state’s nursing shortage, announces $341,000 for Norwich program

• February 7, 2008 — Welch fights to improve college affordability with amendment to House bill

• January 28, 2008 — Welch responds to President Bush’s “State of the Union” address

• September 27, 2007 — Landmark college affordability bill with $61 million for Vermonters becomes law

• September 7, 2007 — Congress passes landmark college affordability bill with $61 million for Vermonters

• August 27, 2007 — Welch backs greatest commitment to college affordability since 1944 GI Bill

• July 24, 2007 — Helping a new generation of Vermonters afford a college education

• July 20, 2007 — Welch secures funding to expand Norwich nursing program by fifty-percent

• July 11, 2007 — Welch backs passage of largest student aid increase since 1944 GI Bill, no new cost to taxpayers

• May 10, 2001 — Making College Affordable