Press Releases

On Tuesday, April 16 at 11:00 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: The Role of Federal Student Aid Programs.” The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

The Higher Education Act was established in 1965 to help low- and middle-income students achieve their dreams of attending college. Under the leadership of House Republicans, the 2008 reauthorization of the law included several provisions geared toward improving transparency in higher education. For the first time, the law requires colleges and universities to make information about price; financial aid; and basic information, such as demographics and graduation rates, more readily available to the public.

Without a doubt, the 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act started the process of empowering consumers. But as tuition continues to rise at an astonishing pace, it is clear more work must be done to help students and families make informed choices about their higher education options without overwhelming institutions with counterproductive red tape.

The Higher Education Act will once again be due for reauthorization in the 113th Congress. As the committee begins to discuss policies to strengthen the law, Tuesday’s hearing will provide members an opportunity to discuss opportunities to simplify and strengthen federal aid programs to help more students earn a college degree. To learn more about this hearing, visit www.republicans-edlabor.house.gov/hearings.

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