Issue Position: Education - Higher Education

Issue Position

Issue Position: Education - Higher Education

As a graduate of two institutions of higher learning in Virginia, Washington & Lee University and the University of Virginia, and as a parent who had the good fortune of sending children to institutions of postsecondary education, I certainly understand the importance of a quality higher education. We are fortunate in the Commonwealth of Virginia to have many fine institutions of higher learning.

The affordability of higher education, which is always a matter of concern, has recently taken on added importance as colleges and universities throughout Virginia have raised tuition. In order to help Virginians, regardless of income, have access to institutions of higher learning, I have been strongly supportive of a number of efforts to help make a post-secondary education more affordable. Pell Grants, subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and 529 college savings programs are just a few of the important initiatives that I support.

The Higher Education Act (HEA) is the legislation through which the federal government is primarily involved in higher education. The HEA authorizes: student financial aid programs; support services - such as TRIO and GEAR UP - that help students complete high school and enter and succeed in post secondary education; aid to strengthen institutions; aid to improve K-12 teacher training at postsecondary institutions; and other important programs. I am a strong supporter of the HEA.

Recently, the United States Senate has fully debated legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the HEA.

Specifically, on July 20, 2007, the Senate passed H.R.2669, the Higher Education Access Act of 2007, by a vote of 78-18, with my support. This legislation reduced the government subsidies to lenders and guarantee agencies that were provided as an incentive to these entities to offer student loans. Proponents of the bill maintain that a reduction was warranted because of alleged abuses in the student loan industry. The majority of the savings achieved from reduced lender subsidies will go towards a new Promise Grant program. The Promise Grant was created as another program to assist low-income Pell-eligible students in addition to the Pell Grant. Other highlights of the bill include the creation of the College Access Partnership Grant Program which will provide states with funds for activities to increase college access for low-income students. The Senate passed the conference report to H.R.2669 on September 10, 2007, by a vote of 79-12, with my support. On September 27, 2007, this legislation was signed into law by President Bush.

Next, on July 24, 2007, the Senate passed S.1642, the Higher Education Act Amendments of 2007, by a vote of 95-0, with my support. This legislation includes provisions to increase the authorized maximum Pell Grant from $5,800 to $6,300 by 2012. Other provisions of the bill include: an expansion of the TRIO program to prepare low-income students for college; creation of a shorter Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form; establishment of a ban on lenders from offering payments and gifts to schools in order to receive preferential treatment in the schools' financial aid office; and the creation of a new competitive grant program for colleges and universities to improve their campus safety and emergency response systems, among other provisions. The differences in the Senate bill must be reconciled with the House-passed bill in a conference committee.

Finally, I offered the Minority Serving Institutions Advanced Technology and Education Act as an amendment to the HEA. This legislation is aimed at providing resources to address the technology gap that exists at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). My Amendment was accepted and is now part of the Senate-passed bill.

Specifically, the legislation creates a federal grant program for MSIs to acquire equipment, instrumentation, networking capability, hardware and software, digital network technology and wireless technology and infrastructure to develop and provide educational services. Additionally, the grants could be used for such activities as campus wiring, equipment upgrades, and technology training. These grants can also be used for the professional development of administrators and faculty in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Finally, MSIs could use these funds to offer their students universal access to campus networks, increase connectivity rates, or make infrastructure improvements.

Virginia is home to six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) - Norfolk State University, St. Paul's College, Virginia Union University, Virginia University of Lynchburg, Hampton University, and Virginia State University- in this category of institutions that would be helped by the bill.

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