Skip to main content

Congressman Cohen's Statement on the Passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act

July 31, 2008


Reforming higher education has been one of my highest priorities as an elected official, both as a Member of Congress and as a Tennessee state senator. Last year, Congress enacted into law a $20 billion increase in college financial aid over the next five years, the largest increase in student aid since the G.I. Bill of 1944.

I was proud to cosponsor this important legislation which will address the soaring price of college tuition and remove other obstacles that make it harder for qualified students to go to college. In Tennessee, the price of attending one of our four-year public universities has increased by eight percent over the course of the past academic year.

This vital legislation will address 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. The Higher Education Opportunity Act also strengthens provisions previously approved by the House to avoid conflicts of interest in the student loan programs. The bill’s new provisions include requiring better consumer disclosures and protections on private student loans. Together these protections form a Bill of Rights for college consumers.

In addition, the Higher Education Opportunity Act will:

  • Make textbook costs more manageable for students by, among other things, 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 minority and low-income 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; and
  • Strengthen our nation’s workforce and economic competitiveness by boosting science, technology, and foreign language educational opportunities.

H.R. 4137 is a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, the primary federal law aimed at expanding college access for low- and middle-income students. If enacted, this would be the first time the Higher Education Act was reauthorized since 1998.

For more information, please visit https://edlabor.house.gov/micro/coaa.shtml.

- 30 -

Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265

Issues:Education