Jeff Bingaman: “I rise to speak, first, in favor of the legislation Senator Kennedy and Senator Enzi have brought to the Senate floor…”

“I rise to speak, first, in favor of the legislation Senator Kennedy and Senator Enzi have brought to the Senate floor and also to speak in opposition to an amendment I understand is going to be offered to this bill at some point in the proceedings. But let me begin by congratulating Senator Kennedy and Senator Enzi for their good work. This is a very major step forward in providing the resources young people in this country, not just young people but all Americans, need in order to pursue postsecondary education. It is a very major step forward. I am proud to be a supporter of this legislation and proud to be part of the committee that Senator Kennedy and Senator Enzi chair and are the ranking member of. We all know the costs of going to college have skyrocketed in recent years. We have seen a 35-percent jump in tuition, adjusted average tuition and fees, for instate students at public colleges and universities since the 2001-2002 school year. This 35-percent increase represents the largest increase in any 5-year period since the Government has been keeping track of these figures. This year alone, the cost of going to college is 6.3 percent higher than it was last year, averaging $12,796, including room and board in our schools.”