Issue Position: Education
Issue Position
I believe that any individual who desires a college education should be provided with the resources and assistance to attain their goals. I supported the College Opportunity and Affordability Act which will increase the maximum authorized Pell grant for low-income college students from $5,800 to $9,000 annually. The federal Pell Grant program is the single largest source of assistance for post secondary education. The grants are awarded to low-income individuals and do not have to be repaid. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act also seeks to help students by streamlining the financial aid application process, makes textbook costs more manageable for students, strengthens college readiness programs, increases college aid and support programs for veterans and military families and ensures equal opportunities and fair learning environments for students with disabilities.
Because I believe that our veterans should be given the resources to achieve their educational goals in life I am an original co-sponsor of bi-partisan legislation in Congress which completely overhauls and nearly doubles the nation's G.I. Bill education benefits. The Post 9/11 Veterans' Educational Assistance Act closely resembles the educational benefits provided to veterans returning from World War II. The bill modernizes and increases the benefits available to veterans to address the reality of rising tuition costs and increased deployment of the National Guard and Reserve units. This legislation was signed into law on June 30, 2008 as part of an appropriations bill.
Because a quality education is one of the best investments we can make in our future generations of leaders I support policies that will provide federal assistance to state and local governments but limit the federal role in our local education. I firmly believe that local communities and parents know best when it comes to the educational needs of their children.
I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner to ensure Iowa's students have every tool available to them to expand their education and fulfill their educational and professional goals.
Source