Federal Update #6, November 18, 2003

The House Minority introduced a bill today as a contributing effort to the activity surrounding the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act:

McCollum Introduces College Affordability Act

Measure Aims to Halt Spikes in Tuition and Allow Greater Access to Higher Education for Millions of Americans

Washington, DC- Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) and Congressman John Tierney (D-MA), members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, today introduced the College Affordability and Accountability Act to control the rising cost of tuition.  This legislation offers incentives to students and schools, while demanding accountability from the state and federal governments.

"Students and prospective students in Minnesota are seeing staggering increases in tuition," said McCollum.  "The spike in tuition costs are making the dream of pursuing higher education out of reach for too many people.  This is unacceptable."

"As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, we must do more to ensure Americans have access to affordable higher education.  This bill provides this access by building a partnership between students, schools and the state and federal governments to see that this basic need is met," McCollum said.

Tuition at the University of Minnesota has jumped 36 percent since 2000.  Nationwide, students at 2- and 4- year public institutions are seeing double-digit percentage increases.  The McCollum/Tierney bill reinvigorates the federal-state-school partnership for affordable higher education by:

• Increasing States' Commitment to Affordable Education
  States would have to maintain their own level of college funding - ensuring that they fulfill their end of the bargain to make a quality college education affordable to all students and stop tuition hikes.
• Curbing College Costs: All colleges and universities would be required to implement and report on cost containment strategies designed to help keep tuition prices low.
• Providing Incentives to Control Rising Tuition: The Act would provide additional mandatory Pell Grant funds, or "Pell Plus Grants," to schools that keep their annual net tuition increases at a rate equal to, or below, the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI).
• : The Act would establish a national online college price calculator, to allow students and parents to accurately estimate the required cost of tuition prices, room and board to attend a particular college.

Congresswoman McCollum's 4th Congressional District includes 19 higher education institutions, representing a broad range of private and public, 2 and 4-year and professional development schools.