Kathy Castor: “I thank my colleague, Ms. Sutton from Ohio, who is a true fighter for education reform for the working families of Ohio…”

“I thank my colleague, Ms. Sutton from Ohio, who is a true fighter for education reform for the working families of Ohio and all Americans. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the College Cost Reduction Act under this rule, as we are charting an historic new investment in our students and our communities. All Americans should salute the leadership of Chairman George Miller and Speaker Nancy Pelosi for their leadership in education and this single largest investment in higher education since the 1944 GI Bill. Chairman Miller, on behalf of the students, colleges and universities in the State of Florida, I thank you for your dedication. And we also thank you in the State of Florida because you worked tirelessly with me and my colleague from the Rules Committee, Mr. Hastings, to ensure that students from States like Florida that have low tuition and low State support have access to additional need-based aid. Passage of this act will increase access to college by making it more affordable. The cost of higher education in this country has skyrocketed over recent years. Thousands of students are left with overwhelming debt after graduation due to higher student loan rates and declining financial aid. Some may not make it to the college classroom at all because it has become so cost prohibitive. In Florida, the average debt after college is more than $18,000 per student.”