Capitol Hill College Affordability Hearings

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) is set to expire this year, which means the 113th Congress has the opportunity to reauthorize (although the last time it expired, it took five years to reauthorize).  Nevertheless, the topic of college affordability and student financial aid is making the rounds around Capitol Hill (and this is just the beginning).  Yesterday, there were two back-to-back hearings, one in Senate committee and one in House of Representatives subcommittee.  See Libby Nelson's article today from Inside Higher Ed, "And So It Begins."

Here are some highlights:

#SenateHELP Committee Hearing (#FixFinAid, #FAchat)

Watching right now: #HELP committee hearing "The Challenge of College Affordability: The Student Lens" Watch here: ow.ly/k705G
— Rachel Fishman (@higheredrachel) April 16, 2013

Wisconsin Represent! @saragoldrickrab @senatorbaldwin #HELP hearing on College Affordability #fachat
— Karla Weber (@ItsJustKarla) April 16, 2013

Sen. Alexander: I agree w/President's thinking on variable interest rates on federal student loans. #fixfinaid
— Rachel Fishman (@higheredrachel) April 16, 2013

Senack: Far too few distressed borrowers are enrolled in IBR. Congress should simplify the process. #FixFinAid #SenateHELP
— Rachel Fishman (@higheredrachel) April 16, 2013

.@saragoldricrab: There's never been a more important time to address college affordability. #fixfinaid #SenateHELP
— Rachel Fishman (@higheredrachel) April 16, 2013

.@saragoldrickrab: With so little help,many low-income families are left with a bill of ~$12K. #SenateHELP #fixfinaid
— Rachel Fishman (@higheredrachel) April 16, 2013

This testimony shows that requiring Ent/Exit counseling doesn't make it effective. The student has to want to be there #fixfinaid
— Craig P Anderson (@CraigPAnderson) April 16, 2013

"To cover the remaining costs of a public univ, a student would need 2 work @ least 35 hrs/wk:52 wks/year @ fed min wage"- @saragoldrickrab
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) April 16, 2013

House of Representatives #EDworkforce Hearing (#FixFinAid, #FAchat)

And we're about to get underway at @edworkforce #highered subcommittee on federal student aid.
— Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) April 16, 2013

Foxx: "We find ourselves at a crossroads btwn accountability and limited gov't." Finaid shd never be used "to impose price controls."
— Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) April 16, 2013

Terry Hartle of @aceducation: Simplification is the holy grail of each reauthorization, but to simplify can be -- paradoxically -- complex.
— Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) April 16, 2013

Madzelan recommends simplified FAFSA, auto-IBR, expanded experimental sites...
— Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) April 16, 2013

Hartle: "#Finaid rules were about ensuring schools were good stewards. Now they are full of rules that have nothing to do w finaid" #fachat
— jillian klein (@jayseaklein) April 16, 2013

Madzelan: "Simplify FAFSA. Streamline repayment. Hold TIV schools accountable for outcomes. Experiment to find best solutions." #fachat
— jillian klein (@jayseaklein) April 16, 2013

Hartle: If we eliminate questions from the #FAFSA, we make more ppl eligible to get financial aid. Adds sig cost implications.
— Rachel Fishman (@higheredrachel) April 16, 2013

. @aceducation's Hartle: "Does fed student aid increase tuition? No." Rep. Messer: "you really believe that?"
— Libby Nelson (@libbyanelson) April 16, 2013