Senator Kennedy Applauds Passage Of House Hea Bill

February 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement applauding the passage by the United States House of Representatives of a higher education reauthorization bill.

“I commend Chairman Miller and his colleagues on the passage of a House higher education reauthorization bill. Like the Senate-passed bill, the legislation passed today will guard against future ethical abuses in the student loan industry and help keep college costs down by holding colleges accountable for tuition increases.

Both bills include proposals to simplify the federal financial aid application process and strengthen programs that support teacher training. This legislation builds on the college aid bill passed by Congress last fall, which provided more than $20 billion in new college aid to students – the largest increase since the GI Bill.

Now, it’s critical that we move swiftly to complete work on this vital legislation so students and parents can have access to a college application and aid process that is simpler, more transparent and has greater integrity.”

Source: Senator Edward M. Kennedy