Recently, Congress approved, with my strong support, bipartisan legislation that will make college more affordable and accessible to our region’s students.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act will reform our higher education system so that it operates in the best interests of students and families. The measure addresses the increasing costs of college tuition and removes obstacles that make it more difficult for qualified students to go to college.

Improving the educational opportunities for the residents of Southwest Virginia is among my highest priorities. Our region’s students who desire to pursue a college education should have access to the best possible financial and informational resources needed to obtain their degree. In order to attract to our region knowledge economy companies that pay superior wages, we must have large numbers of residents with college degrees and specialized skills acquired through post-secondary education.

An October 2007 report from the College Board indicated that, over the past five years, tuition and fees have increased at public and private colleges and at two-year and four-year colleges. The Higher Education Opportunity Act addresses these rising prices by encouraging colleges to rein in price increases, ensuring that states maintain their commitments to higher education funding, providing students and families with consumer-friendly information on college pricing and the factors driving tuition increases, and streamlining the federal student financial aid application process.

These provisions, along with the $20 billion increase in college financial aid Congress approved and the President signed into law last year, will help relieve the burden of the high cost of college tuition for students.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act also strengthens existing provisions to avoid conflicts of interest in the student loan programs. The measure’s new provisions require better consumer disclosures and protections on private student loans.

In addition, the Higher Education Opportunity Act will:
· Make textbook costs more manageable for students by helping them plan for textbook expenses in advance of each semester.
· Allow students to receive year-round Pell Grant scholarships.
· Strengthen college readiness and support programs for low-income and minority students.
· Increase college aid and support programs for veterans and military families.
· Improve safety on college campuses and help schools recover and rebuild after a disaster.
· Ensure equal college opportunities and fair learning environments for students with disabilities.
· Strengthen our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness by boosting science, technology, and foreign language educational opportunities.
· Encourage students to enter vital public service jobs by authorizing up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness for public defenders, prosecutors, firefighters, military service members, first responders, law enforcement officers, educators, nurses, and others serving the public interest.

Students are the key to our future, and we must prepare them for that future by ensuring that those who desire to pursue a college education have access to the best possible resources, and I am pleased that Congress has approved this measure, which will make a college education more accessible for our region’s students.

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at the New River Voice.