Rep. Sutton Votes To Expand Opportunities For Higher Education

Press Release

Today, Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) voted in favor of landmark legislation that will expand opportunities for higher education and put our country on sounder footing. H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), will produce more college graduates by 2020 by making college more accessible, enhancing the community college system, transforming the way our student loan programs operate, and improving early education opportunities. This legislation will save taxpayers $87 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and will direct $10 billion in savings back to the U.S. Treasury to help pay down the deficit. The measure passed by a 353-171 margin. Passage of this bill is in furtherance of Rep. Sutton's `Plan to Revitalize Northeastern Ohio.'

"The economic downturn has made a growing college affordability crisis worse for America's students and families, but this bill will help our neediest students and families," Rep. Sutton said. "Investing in education is one of the most important things we can do to grow and strengthen our workforce and secure our wellbeing as a nation."

Rep. Sutton is dedicated to providing adults with opportunities to return to school to develop new skills and get good jobs. H.R. 3221 will make a $10 billion investment in our community colleges and align community college curricula with the needs of high-wage, high-demand industries. The bill will provide $2.5 billion to community colleges for construction of new facilities, which means $78 million will be dedicated to building projects in Ohio.

"We are deeply indebted to Rep. Sutton for her ongoing advocacy and support of Lorain County Community College," said Dr. Roy Church, President of Lorain Community College. "It is great news that Rep. Sutton supported this vital legislation that will not only benefit Lorain County Community College, but the nation's 1,200 community colleges."

Currently, more than 205,000 Ohio students receive Pell Grants, with 67,000 of these students at Ohio's community colleges. Rep. Sutton promised her constituents that she would work to help students and families by raising the maximum Pell Grant level. There are 21,310 students in the 13th District that will be eligible for a Pell Grant award for the 2010-2011 academic year. As a result of her support, $98.1 million will be invested in the 13th District to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and to $6,900 by 2019.

H.R. 3221 will also:
* Keep interest rates low for need-based (subsidized) federal student loans.
* Strengthen the Perkins Loan program.
* Shorten and simplify the application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
* Create an Early Learning Challenge Fund, to enhance standards and practices for birth-to-five early learning programs and increase the number of children entering kindergarten.

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