Bill Clinton: “I particularly wish to reinforce her strong statement of support for the Kennedy-Collins amendment concerning higher…”

“I particularly wish to reinforce her strong statement of support for the Kennedy-Collins amendment concerning higher education and its affordability. This amendment that will increase access to higher education would invest $2.2 billion in Pell grants and other critical programs. I think all of us know that investing in higher education pays off, but we also know we have put our students into a difficult dilemma. They understand the importance of going to college. That is why in the last week they have packed up; they have moved to campuses; they have enrolled in courses; they are prepared to do their part to acquire the skills and credentials they need to make a contribution to our country. Yet at the very time they are doing their part, accepting their responsibility, the costs of higher education are dramatically increasing. States are reducing their support, increasing tuition, and other related costs. As a result, many qualified students from middle-income and low-income families, sometimes the first in their families to even dream of going to college, the first to apply, the first to believe they could put together the financial resources to attend and graduate from college, are coming up against the reality of not being able to fund their education.”