Dan Kildee: “Ensuring students can afford college is vital to ensuring our Nation's competitiveness in a global economy. A majority…”

“Ensuring students can afford college is vital to ensuring our Nation's competitiveness in a global economy. A majority of new jobs in the next decade will require a college degree, which makes higher education an economic necessity for most Americans. Ensuring all students have the opportunity to go to college will strengthen our economy, grow our middle class, and invest in our future. Yet, education costs continue to rise year after year, pricing some people out of an education. College costs have dramatically increased. Over the last decade, the cost of attending a 4-year institution has increased 66 percent over the rate of inflation. For 2-year institutions, tuition and fees for students have increased 47 percent beyond the rate of inflation. According to the College Board, the annual cost of attending an in-State public college is now well over $22,000 a year. These rapidly rising costs are pricing hardworking families and students out of an education. Congress can--and must--act to ensure college remains affordable for hardworking families, and there are things that we can do to do just that. First, Congress must act immediately to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1. I've supported the Student Loan Relief Act, which would extend the current student loan interest rate, 3.4 percent, until 2015.…”