David Loebsack: “I strongly support the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. This important legislation will provide thousands…”

“I strongly support the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. This important legislation will provide thousands of Iowa's students and families with the financial support they need to attend college by increasing the purchasing power of the Pell grant. Next year the scholarship will increase by $490 and by 2012 the grant will reach $5,400. The bill also provides upfront tuition assistance and makes it easier for students who pursue careers as public school teachers. In Iowa, 36 percent of students who attend public 4-year schools graduate with unmanageable debt levels if they choose to take a teaching job in the State. As a college teacher in Iowa I regularly encountered students struggling to afford their education, and I'm certain that this bill makes the right investments at a critical time for our students. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and strongly support its passage.”