Washington, DC - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson joined President Obama at today’s bill signing ceremony at Northern Virginia Community College for the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.  This bill includes numerous reforms for the federal student aid system. 

“By making all federal student loans direct loans, $68 billion will be saved and invested back into making college more affordable and accessible for students,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “Everyone who wants to attend college and has the aptitude to do so should have the opportunity to pursue higher education.  We are making a historic investment including increasing Pell Grant scholarships and indexing them to the Consumer Price Index.  This means an additional $2.5 billion in Pell Grant scholarships for Texans and $75 million for students in the 30th Congressional District of Texas – all paid for by the savings from reforming direct student loans.  I believe this will go a long way towards making attending and graduating college a reality for all students.”

In addition to the student loan portion of the Reconciliation bill are modified provisions to the health care reform package that will help lower prescription drug costs by closing the “donut hole” and make health care more affordable for the middle class.

More information about the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 can be found at http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/07/student-aid-and-fiscal-respons.shtml and http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2010/03/affordable-health-care-for-ame.shtml.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.