The American dream is built on access to high-quality, affordable educational opportunities. Maintaining our nation's investments in higher education is also critical to making our economy strong and competitive in today's global economy.

Making college more affordable has been one of the top priorities of Democrats in Congress and President Obama in recent years. Under Democratic leadership, Congress has passed legislation to boost funding for Pell Grants, encourage colleges to rein in tuition costs, simplify the federal student aid application process, expand college access and support for low-income and minority students, and provide consumers with greater information to protect student borrowers and prohibit conflicts of interest between universities and lenders.

Congress also passed a law to make the federal student loan program more efficient and accountable to taxpayers. By eliminating subsidies for private lenders making government-guaranteed loans and instituting direct lending from the government to students, Congress eliminated the middleman, lowered interest rates, and used the savings to extend additional loans to students, expand access to community colleges, and enhance programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The student loan reform law also eased loan repayment requirements for some borrowers, instituting new programs offering loan forgiveness for teachers and other public servants and income-based repayment for all borrowers. These strategic federal investments in education and student aid have made it possible for future generations of Americans to obtain a college education, regardless of their income.

Unfortunately, in the most recent Congress, Republican leaders put our investments in higher education – particularly the Pell grant program – on the chopping block. I believe cutting the very investments that will ensure our nation's long-term economic success is penny-wise and pound-foolish and have fought against them as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Our education and research system is our greatest competitive advantage: it gives American workers the tools they need to compete and win in the global economy and to out-innovate our competitors. I will continue to fight for these programs, which have been an integral part of our success story in the Triangle and throughout the country.

Additional Information

• Please click here for resources on financial aid and applying to college, and here to go to the U.S. Department of Education's website on federal student aid.

College Rankings and Guides

• US News Online - search for schools based on tuition, name, specialties, and distance from home
• Kaplan Online - information on taking the PSAT, SAT, admissions, financial aid, and graduate school
• Princeton Review Online - information on SAT, college rankings from tuition cost to parties
• Yahoo College Search - search by college name, major, state or by tuition