Kay Hagan: “I rise today to speak in support of the education provisions in H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability…”

“I rise today to speak in support of the education provisions in H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010. Over 40 years ago, Congress passed the Higher Education Act of 1965 with the conviction that no qualified student should be denied the opportunity to attend college simply because of the cost. Who knew that today, in the year 2010, this concern would still ring true? The passage of this legislation will provide greater access to higher education for thousands of American students. The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act represents the single largest investment in college affordability in history. From increasing the maximum Pell grant for low-income students to eliminating excessive subsidies for banks, this bill makes significant improvements to Federal student loan programs. Also, as students and their families look to Federal loans to pay for their post-secondary education, this legislation will allow non-profit student loan servicers in states like mine to continue servicing student loans. This legislation provides funding for the college access challenge grant program, a program created in the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.”