Tierney Fights for Accessible and Affordable Higher Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman John F. Tierney (D-MA) hailed the Education and Labor Committee's unanimous approval of the "The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007" (H.R.4137). The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 renews the Higher Education Act, which authorizes the federal government's involvement in postsecondary education and includes key student financial aid programs.
"Paying for college is not easy in this country. In the past year alone, tuition has increased an average of 6.6% at four year institutions. This increase has a real impact on families' financial well-being and, as a result, many students put off going to college because of its cost, and those who do enroll often incur massive debt," said Congressman Tierney. "That is why I have made it a top priority to make college more affordable and accessible so that students can achieve their educational and professional dreams."
The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 includes key legislative priorities that Congressman Tierney has long championed, including:
* Providing incentives to make tuition affordable;
* Renewing states' commitment to affordable college education so they will no longer be able to push higher tuition taxes onto students and families; and
* Putting students and families in control by giving them access to accurate information about the cost of college and steps individual schools are taking to offer affordable rates of tuition.
* Empowering universities to partner with local agencies to provide an "alternative path" to recent college graduates and mid-career professionals looking to enter the teaching profession.
* Granting meaningful loan forgiveness for borrowers who pursue certain public service professions. Specifically, the bill provides $2000 in loan forgiveness each year for up to five years of public service for a total of $10,000.
"Earlier this year, Congress approved the College Cost Reduction Act, which provided the largest increase - $20 billion over the next five years - in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill of Rights. With today's action, we are taking another step forward in helping students and their families," concluded Tierney.