Debbie Dingell: “I have always believed students must have the opportunity to earn degrees based on their academic accomplishments rather…”

“I have always believed students must have the opportunity to earn degrees based on their academic accomplishments rather than on their economic situation. Today's economy demands a highly educated work force, which is why Congress must ensure we are providing educational access to every qualified student that wants to attend college. H.R. 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act, will do just that by making the single largest investment in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill. I have heard from many of my constituents that the daunting costs of a college education are preventing them from achieving a college degree. They are not alone. Nearly 200,000 students are holding off on going to college or forgoing college completely because they can't afford it. In the last 5 years tuition at 4-year public colleges has grown by 35 percent, forcing both students and their families to take on increasing amounts of debt to pay for college. At a time when Michigan's economy and workforce is struggling, a college education should not be a luxury that is unreachable for middle-class families. When the Democrats took the majority this year, we committed to making college more affordable and accessible. H.R. 2669 will do this by cutting the interest rate from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over the next 5 years.”