Press Releases

On Wednesday, July 18 at 10:00 a.m., the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), will hold a hearing entitled, “Keeping College Within Reach: Exploring State Efforts to Curb Costs.” The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
  
In 2001, annual tuition and fees at public universities averaged $4,793. Today, that average is $8,244 – a 72 percent increase. Similar trends can be seen at private institutions and two-year degree programs. The federal government has significantly increased education spending over the last decade in an effort to combat the growing cost of college. However, states and institutions must also take steps to help students obtain a quality education at a more affordable price.
   
In recent years, several states have enacted innovative reforms that will help reduce the student debt burden and encourage lower tuition, such as comprehensive articulation agreements that make it easier for students to transfer credits from community colleges to four-year universities and “pay for performance” programs that reward high-performing institutions with additional state resources.
  
Wednesday’s hearing will provide members an opportunity to learn how these and other state-led initiatives are successfully reining in college costs and lowering student debt. For more information about the hearing, visit www.republicans-edlabor.house.gov/hearings. 

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WITNESS LIST

Mr. Scott Pattison
Executive Director
National Association of State Budget Officers
Washington, D.C.

Ms. Teresa Lubbers
Commissioner for Higher Education
State of Indiana
Indianapolis, IN

Mr. Stan Jones
President
Complete College America
Zionsville, IN

Dr. Joe May
President
Louisiana Community and Technical College System
Baton Rouge, LA