Congressman Baird Makes College More Accessible To Southwest Washington Students

Press Release

Congressman Baird Makes College More Accessible To Southwest Washington Students

Today, Congressman Brian Baird (D-WA-03) joined with a bipartisan majority to make college more accessible to thousands of students in Southwest Washington. The Student Aid and Financial Responsibility Act (SAFRA) provides prospective students greater access to financial aid to fund their education. The legislation also makes an unprecedented commitment to career and technical education (CTE) by increasing partnerships between community colleges and employers. It also expands eligibility to federal student loan programs to better reach CTE students. These changes are all being made with no additional cost to the American taxpayer.

"As we look to continue rebuilding our economy, we need to provide students of all ages the tools they need to afford the education necessary to obtain the jobs of tomorrow. This is especially true for students at our community colleges, and those pursuing careers in career and technical education," said Congressman Baird. "I formed the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus to focus attention and resources on programs and policies just like this, and I will continue to be a leader in that regard going forward."

The bill significantly increases government grant and loan assistance for college tuition payments. Pell Grants, already distributed to more than 7 million students, will increase to $6,900 by 2019 from $5,350 today. By the 2010-11 school year almost 16,000 students in Southwest Washington will be eligible for Pell Grants. The bill will also expand the Perkins low cost loan program to every college in the U.S and simplify the process of applying for financial aid.

"The process of applying for financial aid has become far too complex. This legislation will make it substantially easier for prospective students to access the funding they need to continue their education," said Baird. "Additionally, by increasing the amount of money that is available to students, we are insuring that these programs can keep up with the rising cost of higher education, and that graduates are able to begin their professional lives with substantially less personal debt."

SAFRA will reform the system of federal student loans to save the taxpayers $87 billion and will direct $10 billion back to the Treasury to reduce entitlement spending. SAFRA will also change the way the student loan system functions by originating new loans through the government's Direct Loan program; it will also maintain competition among private lenders and non-profits to provide top-notch customer service for student borrowers. This simple change will make college loans more reliable for students and families -- and ensure that loans operate in the best interests of borrowers by reducing many of the potential conflicts of interest that exist in the current loan system.

"This legislation marks the largest investment in higher education ever, and it doesn't cost the taxpayer a dime" concluded Baird. "This is common sense legislation that will improve the lives of thousands of students of all ages in Southwest Washington."

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