The House in committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3221) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes:
* Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chair, I am proud today to support House Resolution 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. This is long-overdue legislation that will provide funding directly to students, rather than to bankers. In addition, this bill expands a successful, much needed program to help more students go to college, supports job training at a time when millions of Americans are searching for ways to survive in a tough and changing economy, simplifies the financial aid process to make it easier for families to apply, and supports early childhood education so that more children graduate from high school and proceed to higher education. At the same time, this bill streamlines government programs to put an additional $87 billion back into the federal budget over ten years.
* I've heard from individuals in my home state about how this bill would impact their lives. It will mean that 20,594 students will be eligible for Pell Grants next year and the 107,677 Oregon students who applied for subsidized loans last year will be guaranteed low interest rates. An additional $1.6 million per year will go towards Oregon's College Access Challenge Grant program, which will have a huge impact on the 25,000 students who use it to help prepare for and make undergraduate and graduate work affordable. I am also pleased that the bill reinvests in our community colleges. I am impressed by the work that the two community colleges in my district, Portland Community College and Mt. Hood Community College, have done to help individuals struggling to prepare themselves for a changing economy. I am pleased that President Obama has recognized the importance of higher education and the need to make it accessible and affordable in today's changing economy.
* I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.