Senate Passes the Higher Education Act, Menendez Praises the Bill

Press Release

SENATE PASSES THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT, MENENDEZ PRAISES THE BILL

Menendez sees the bill as a crucial step towards affordable higher education for all

With overwhelming bipartisan support, the Senate passed the Higher Education Opportunity Act last night by a vote of 83-8. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) praised the bill as an important step to opening the doors of higher education for all individuals, regardless of their financial background. This major piece of legislation is aimed at making college more affordable and accessible by expanding financial aid, as well as bringing clarity and transparency to the student loan process. The legislation will also hold universities more accountable for their costs, while providing crucial funding for Minority Serving Institutions.

"Funding for higher education isn't just a social responsibility, it's an economic necessity," said Sen. Menendez. "If we're going to stay on the apex of the curve of innovation, if we're going to be the economic power we were in the 20th century going forward into the 21st century we have to do all we can to educate our children and prepare them to compete."

Senator Menendez added, "The time has come to make a robust, national commitment to the education of our youth at all levels, from kindergarten through graduate school, from technological institutes in our inner cities to centers of agricultural research in the heartland. We're a little late on the assignment, but we can still get an A for finally taking the time to turn it in."

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source