Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at a markup of four bills to support homeschoolers, lower tuition barriers for U.S. territories, and make college costs and aid clearer for all students:

"It is no secret that public trust in postsecondary education continues to wane. A Pew Research study a few months ago found that 70 percent of Americans think higher education is going in the wrong direction, an increase of nearly 15 percent since 2020. A Politico poll last week revealed that only 25 percent of Americans think college is worth the cost—and shockingly, 60 percent of college graduates say it wasn’t worth it. More and more students are wondering if they should even enter postsecondary education at all. 
 
"Postsecondary education is a promise: that students who invest their time and money will receive an education worth it. I am proud that this Committee has been at the forefront of restoring trust in that promise. The reforms in the Working Families Tax Cuts made real progress, and today I’m excited to address four more bills that will benefit students as they continue their journey to enter the workforce.
 
"First, we are making sure homeschoolers have the same access to higher education as everyone else. About 3 to 4 percent of students are homeschooled, and research shows they often outperform their public-school peers. That success continues at the college level: homeschoolers tend to perform better on the ACT, stay in college longer, and attain higher college GPAs. However, under current law, the Higher Education Act classifies homeschoolers as 'students who are not high school graduates.' That is misleading. Students who meet state and local law requirements are, in fact, high school graduates. H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act by Rep. Mark Harris, clarifies that simple fact.
 
"Second, H.R. 6472, introduced by Rep. Moylan (R-GU), helps students from U.S. territories like Guam get in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities. Our American territories in the Pacific, like Guam, play a strategic role in protecting American interests in the Pacific, particularly against the Chinese Communist Party. Due to economic constraints and geographic isolation, many residents of U.S. territories have limited opportunities to pursue postsecondary education, harming the workforce. This bill opens the door to advanced training and degrees that may not have otherwise been available. As more students receive postsecondary credentials, more of those students can decide to return to the territories after graduation, bringing skills and networks back home to benefit their local communities and economies.

"Third and fourth, both bills focus on price transparency. College is one of the biggest financial decisions a student and family will make, but college pricing remains confusing. 
 
"H.R. 6498, the Student Financial Clarity Act, introduced by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Bob Onder (R-MO), improves the College Scorecard to provide more information about college costs and student outcomes for prospective students. It also creates a universal net price calculator tool so students can estimate their expected costs over the length of their program.
 
"H.R. 6502, the College Financial Aid Clarity Act, introduced by Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Young Kim (R-CA), ensures colleges cannot mislead students on financial aid offers. A 2022 report from the Government Accountability Office found that 91 percent of colleges failed to follow best pricing practices in their financial aid offers to students, with some colleges deceptively portraying loans as grants that students would not have to repay. Although some colleges have since made improvements, this bill covers all institutions and gives students the clear information they need to make informed decisions. 
 
"Some accuse Republicans of limiting 'access' to higher education. That is not true. We want all students to have access to the postsecondary path that’s best for them and their families. Too many students face bureaucracy, hidden costs, and student debt for programs that don’t deliver a return on investment. These bills take important steps to fix that. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting them."

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