Ed Royce: “I would like to thank the Education and the Workforce Committee for bringing up H.R. 4984, the Empowering Students…”

“I would like to thank the Education and the Workforce Committee for bringing up H.R. 4984, the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill. Within the past year, I have held two Paying for College Workshops in my district. These district events have attracted hundreds of parents and students. I have noticed that parents take more careful notes during these workshops, but all of them were eager--all who attended were eager to learn about how to finance college tuition, from the free application for Federal student aid, to understanding the multiple grant and loan programs. Many students and parents struggle to understand this very complicated process. I think that that is why this bill is important, the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act. With total student debt now over $1 trillion, it is critical to equip students and parents with proper interactive counseling, so that they have the knowledge to make responsible and informed decisions when borrowing. Understanding the terms and conditions for the Pell grants, understanding what an individual's financial obligations are after graduating, these are key to helping students and parents understand and manage financial health well beyond college. I, again, would like to thank Representative Brett Guthrie and Representative Suzanne Bonamici for their joint work on this bill.…”