Affordable Higher Education News

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 - Rich Williams, U.S. PIRG Higher Education Associate, released the following statement on the passage of the higher education bill authored by Chairman George Miller (D-CA), chair of the U.S. House Education and Labor committee, which passed by a vote of 253-171:

“U.S. PIRG praises the U.S. House of Representatives for passing H.R. 3221 - the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009.  Federal aid programs have failed to keep pace with the financial realities of family incomes and college costs, placing an excessive burden on families of modest means and hindering student opportunity.

“This investment in student aid profoundly changes the benefits of federal student aid programs.  In particular, this legislation ensures that the Pell grant increases each year in accordance with the cost of living - instilling confidence in college financing for students of modest means for years to come.  In addition, H.R. 3221 will keep the doors of community college open to students across the nation, as well as help them get to graduation. 

“In short, this bill helps renew the promise of student aid programs for the tens of millions of students who rely on grants, loans, and access to community college to achieve a college education. We appreciate Chairman Miller’s leadership and look forward to working with the Senate on the bill.”

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U.S. PIRG, federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization. For more information visit http://www.uspirg.org.
For more information on Affordable Higher Education, visit http://www.uspirg.org/higher-education