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[Page S6994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION
By Mr. REED (for himself and Ms. Collins):
S. 3028. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to
strengthen Federal-State partnerships in postsecondary education; to
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, most jobs require some kind of
postsecondary credential, whether a certificate. an associate's or
bachelor's degree. an advanced or professional degree, or an
apprenticeship. Moreover. the workplace is changing with automation,
artificial intelligence, and the so-called gig economy transforming the
nature of work. Yet, postsecondary education seems increasingly risky
or out of reach for too many Americans. That is why I am proud to be
introducing the bipartisan Partnerships for Affordability and Student
Success (PASS) Act with my colleague, Senator Collins.
At a time when we need to equip people with the foundational skills
and knowledge they need to succeed in this changing environment, we see
college costs and student loan debt soaring. We see too many students
who start postsecondary education unable to finish, leaving them in
debt but without a degree or postsecondary credential. As a result, we
see public confidence in our system of higher education declining.
According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 61 percent of
Americans say that our system of higher education is headed in the
wrong direction.
The federal government cannot solve this crisis on its own. States
are critical partners in making college accessible. affordable, and
accountable. However, state funding for higher education is lower today
than it was before the onset of the Great Recession. According to the
latest State Higher Education Finance report published by the State
Higher Education Executive Officers. public colleges and universities
have become more reliant on tuition dollars for their operations. In
2008, 35.8 percent of general operating costs were supported by tuition
payments. In 2018, that percentage increased to 46.6 percent. Today, in
27 states, tuition accounts for more than half of all higher education
revenue. Moreover, the only federal-state partnership program for need-
based financial aid--the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
(LEAP) program--has not received appropriations since Fiscal Year 2010.
It is time to renew the federal-state partnership for higher
education, first enacted in 1972 on a bipartisan basis. The PASS Act
will revitalize the federal-state partnership through a formula grant
to states with a focus on need-based aid, grants to institutions to
improve student outcomes and reduce college costs, and public
accountability.
In exchange for this new federal investment, states must make a
commitment to maintain their investment in higher education and have a
comprehensive plan for higher education with measurable goals for
access, affordability, and student outcomes. At least half of the
funding must be dedicated to need-based student financial aid. States
also have the option of awarding grants to colleges and universities or
partnerships between institutions of higher education and non-profit
organizations to improve student outcomes, including enrollment,
completion, and employment. and to develop innovative methods for
reducing college costs. I am pleased to have the support of the
National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, the
Center for Law and Social Policy, the Institute for Higher Education
Policy, the Association of Community College Trustees, and the National
Skills Coalition.
This generation is facing a crisis in college affordability and
student loan debt. With the PASS Act, we are providing the resources
and incentives for states to take more responsibility to address
college affordability and student loan debt and improve student
outcomes. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and look
forward to working with them to include these and other key reforms in
the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
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