College opportunity and Affordable Act

Rep. Shuler Votes for College Opportunity and Affordability Act

Passes Amendment to Study Long-Term Student Achievement

Washington, D.C. - Representative Heath Shuler supported legislation yesterday that addresses the soaring price of college tuition and removes other obstacles that make it difficult for qualified students to go to college. Rep. Shuler also achieved passage of an amendment creating a grant program that will help states track long-term student achievement.

By an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 354 to 58, the House approved the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, H.R. 4137, which will reform and strengthen the nation's higher education programs to ensure that they operate in the best interests of students and families. Additionally, the College Opportunity and Affordability Act will streamline the federal student financial aid application process, make textbook costs more manageable, and increase college aid and support programs for veterans and military families.

The legislation is the second major step that the new Democratic Congress has taken to make college more affordable and accessible for all qualified students. 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.

"This important legislation will make it easier for the working families of Western North Carolina to provide their children with the quality education they'll need to compete in the global workplace," said Rep. Shuler

During consideration of the Act, Rep. Shuler offered an amendment to create a competitive grant program to create state-level longitudinal studies to measure student performance from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary levels. The creation of this grant program was one of University of North Carolina's top priorities for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The amendment was adopted by a voice vote.

"We often study how students progress from the beginning of the school year to the end," said Rep. Shuler, "But what happens to them after that? How well are high school students prepared for college? How well are college graduates prepared for the workforce? How long are graduates staying in high needs fields like nursing? My amendment will help provide the long term data our state systems need to answer these questions."

The legislation 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.

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. The bill is supported by a broad coalition of students, colleges and universities, consumer rights advocacy groups, minority organizations, and more.

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