Congressman Panetta Secures Key Legislative Provisions in the College Affordability Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) released the following statement after the House Committee on Education and Labor passed H.R. 4674, the College Affordability Act.

"I applaud the committee's passage of the College Affordability Act. I am proud that the legislation includes portions of my bill to improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program," said Congressman Panetta.

The College Affordability Act includes core elements of Congressman Panetta's legislation, H.R. 4391, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Modernization Act. These provisions require the Department of Education to establish and regularly update a database listing qualifying public service jobs, and enable borrowers to electronically sign and submit any required Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) forms.

The PSLF program was designed to encourage students to pursue careers in public service. Recent Government Accountability Office reports have found major deficiencies in the Department of Education's administration of the program.

"These critical improvements will simplify and modernize the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for student borrowers. We must support the nurses, teachers, emergency responders, servicemembers, and other public servants who have dedicated their lives to helping their fellow citizens," said Congressman Panetta.

The College Affordability Act is a comprehensive overhaul of the higher education system that lowers the cost of college for students and families, improves the quality of higher education through stronger accountability, and expands opportunity by providing students the support and flexibility they need to succeed. Congressman Panetta is a cosponsor of the legislation.

The College Affordability Act:

• Tackles the rising cost of tuition by restoring state and federal investments in public colleges and universities, which will reduce the burden that has been shifted to students and their families.
• Makes college affordable for low- and middle-income students by implementing the largest increase in the value of Pell Grants in the 54-year history of the program.
• Eases the burden of student loans by making existing student loans cheaper to pay off.
• Cracks down on predatory for-profit colleges that defraud students, veterans, and taxpayers.
• Holds all schools accountable for providing students a quality education that leads to a rewarding career.
• Improves students' safety on campus by introducing stronger accountability to track and prevent cases of sexual assault, harassment, and hazing.
• Expands students' access to high-quality programs by making Pell Grants available for short-term programs.
• Helps improve graduation rates by providing stronger support services to keep students in school and on track.
• Invests in the critical institutions that enroll underserved students by increasing and permanently reauthorizing mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other Minority Serving Institutions.

To read a fact sheet on the College Affordability Act, click here.

To read a title by title on the College Affordability Act, click here.

The landmark legislation comes more than 10 years after the last reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and at a time when the combination of rising tuition and inconsistent quality is undermining students' access to the benefits of a college degree. The College Affordability Act will now go to the House floor for a vote.