Dan Kildee: “after a highly contentious debate over a $12 billion raid on student aid, I was hoping to build some bridges and work…”

“after a highly contentious debate over a $12 billion raid on student aid, I was hoping to build some bridges and work together with the rest of the higher education reauthorization. Unfortunately, after countless hours of negotiations, we reached an impasse, and we are considering another bill that falls short of my hopes. We were able to reach agreement on year-round Pell Grants pilot program, student aid application simplification, loan forgiveness in areas of national need and minimum grants for tribal colleges. I am pleased that Chairman McKeon was willing to work with me on these important improvements, but my concerns in the bill still outweigh these improvements. Additionally, it is incumbent upon me to both lead and serve the members of my committee, and my Democratic colleagues on the Education and Workforce Committee have spoken loud and clear. They cannot support this bill. They, too, are pleased with the modifications I mentioned, but it just is not enough to call this a bipartisan bill. In truth, H.R. 609 does little to help make college more affordable for students and families already struggling to pay increasing tuition costs. H.R. 609 does not increase student aid; does not lower interest rates to make loans more manageable; does not promote greater State investment in higher education.…”