McBath Plays Key Role In Moving Landmark Higher Ed Bill Out of Committee
WASHINGTON – After two full days of debate, the House Education and Labor Committee voted to advance the College Affordability Act, including four pieces of legislation and an amendment introduced by Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Ga.
The act, also known as H.R. 4674, reauthorizes the Higher Education Act, which works to lower the cost of college, improve the quality of higher education, and expand opportunity for students from all backgrounds.
During the markup of the bill, Rep. McBath introduced an amendment to provide for collaboration between community colleges and businesses, supporting the development of students’ skills.
The amendment passed with unanimous support from all Democrats and Republicans present.
“I’m so proud of the time and hard work my colleagues have dedicated to making college more affordable,” McBath said afterwards. “We’ve held multiple bipartisan hearings and heard directly from stakeholders to ensure we are improving our education system for every student.”
“The legislation I’ve joined my colleagues in introducing, and countless other measures in this bill, show the American people that we believe in the importance of an affordable, accessible, and valuable education,” she said.
Legislation from McBath included in the package includes:
H.R. 3591, the bipartisan Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act of 2019, to help higher education institutions prevent alcohol and substance misuse;
H.R. 3662, the Relief for Defrauded Students Act of 2019 to provide options for loan-forgiveness for students who were defrauded by for-profit institutions;
H.R.4298, the Pell Grant Restoration Act to give Pell Grant eligibility back to students who were misled by similar for-profit institutions; and
H.R. 4245, the HOPE (Heightening Opportunities for Pathways to Education) for FAFSA Act, to simplify the federal aid application process and allow more families the opportunity to receive financial aid.
“As we work to strengthen our higher education system, we are also working to ensure that America’s workforce is well-prepared to support our businesses,” McBath said. “This collaboration gives students the opportunity to gain insight and experience they can’t learn from a textbook alone. We owe it to our students, our businesses, and our communities to make sure that we are providing the opportunities they need to thrive.”
