Congresswoman Johnson Announces Benefits for Texas’s 30th Congressional District

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Johnson voted for the single largest investment in college aid in history. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act will expand access to an affordable college education to more American students and build a world-class community college system – all at no cost to the taxpayers.

“This bill is a crucial step toward rebuilding the American economy and making sure young people have the ability to attend college or get career training while saving the taxpayers money,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “It will help us make sure that our workforce remains the most highly skilled, cutting-edge and effective in the world.”

With the largest-ever investment in higher education, this bill will significantly increase government grant and loan assistance for college tuition payments. In Texas’s 30th District, Pell Grants will increase by $5,975 from $5550 today. It will invest $74,593,356 in 30th Congressional District schools to bolster college access and raise graduation rates. It includes $307,396,990 for historically black universities and minority-serving institutions, and invests $2 billion in a competitive grant program for community colleges to develop and improve career training programs.

SAFRA will reform the system of federal student loans to save the taxpayers $61 billion over 10 years and will direct $10 billion back to the Treasury to reduce the deficit. It will change the way the student loan system functions by originating all new loans through the government’s Direct Loan program, but will maintain competition among private lenders and non-profits to provide top-notch customer service for student borrowers and save jobs. These reforms will make college loans more reliable for students and families, and ensure that loans operate in the best interests of borrowers by reducing many of the potential conflicts of interest that exist in the current loan system. 

“Tuition costs at both public and private colleges are on the rise even as families struggle through a difficult economy,” said Congresswoman Johnson. “I’m thrilled that I was part of this legislative effort to expand higher education opportunity with our sweeping health insurance reform bill.”
 
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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.