Today the House Education and Labor Committee advanced H.R. 4674, the College Affordability Act, by a party line 28-22 vote on the third day of its committee markup which saw numerous amendments considered. The Democratic bill would reauthorize the Higher Education Act and incorporates more than 30 proposals.
Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA), said, “a quality, college degree remains the surest path to financial security and a rewarding career. Accordingly, we must fulfill the promise of making higher education affordable for all students. The College Affordability Act is a comprehensive bill that will immediately lower the cost of college while putting a down payment on investments that we need to make in the future. I applaud my colleagues for their work on behalf of student and families, and I look forward to bringing this legislation to the House Floor.”
Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC), said, “Students and families can no longer afford the status quo. The same tired idea of throwing more money into the existing system and hoping that this time things will be different is the very definition of insanity. Government overreach and unnecessary intervention has contributed to a bloated postsecondary education sector at the expense of students. My Democrat friends across the aisle seem to have missed this lesson and instead double down on this failing notion. A representative of the higher education sector has weighed in and said that the so-called College Affordability Act will ‘increase the cost of doing business for most institutions.’ Republicans know – and Democrats should know – that this cost won’t be borne by schools, but like any other business will instead get passed to consumers in the form of higher tuition and fees. We can do better.”
More information may be accessed here and here.
ASAHP’s detailed summaries can be found for each day: Day 1 and Day 2 (including Day 3 vote counts).