Rep. Negrete McLeod Votes Against Legislation That Negatively Impacts College Students

Press Release

Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) released the following statement after voting "no" to H.R. 3393, legislation that negatively impacts college students, particularly non-traditional, older college students:

"While this bill includes provisions such as making improvements to the American Opportunity Tax Credit, I could not support this legislation because it includes changes to current law that would actually take away benefits from certain students, specifically older and part-time students who cannot earn a bachelor's degree within a four-year time frame," said Rep. Negrete McLeod.

H.R. 3393 restricts eligibility for the consolidated American Opportunity Tax Credit to the first four years of postsecondary education. It also eliminates the Lifetime Learning Credit and the tax deduction for tuition. These new provisions would negatively impact non-traditional students, transfer students and veterans, who on average do not complete a bachelor's degree within four years.

"This bill does not take into consideration today's average student attending higher educational institutions," said Rep. Negrete McLeod. "Nearly half of undergraduates and three-quarters of all students are adult learners aged 23 or older. A quarter of these students are over the age of 30. Studies show that older students tend to work full-time and take longer to complete their education. This bill's four-year limit will cost many of these students much-needed financial assistance at a time when student tuition is increasing; therefore I could not support this legislation."

H.R. 3393 passed the House by 227-187. It is opposed by the Obama Administration because it is part of a broader effort to pass permanent, unpaid-for extensions of traditional tax extenders that, taken together, would add approximately $800 billion to the deficit.

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