On July 19, the Senate passed, 78-18, the College Cost Reduction Act (H.R. 2669). The House passed a similar measure on July 11 (see The Source, 6/16/07).
The bill would amend the Higher Education Act (P.L. 105-244) to increase the Pell Grant maximum award, provide additional scholarships for the lowest-income Pell recipients, and fund debt forgiveness for public sector employees. The bill also contains cuts totaling $950 million, $750 million of which was mandated by the FY2008 budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 21).
Calling the legislation part of the “heart and soul of the higher education debate,” Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) noted that the bill marked “the first time, since the GI bill [P.L. 78-346]” that “we are providing very significant assistance to needy students in this country.” He added, “[The bill] provides a historic increase in need-based grant aid, [a] $17 billion increase in need-based grant aid. That is the largest increase since the GI bill.”
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY) said, “Providing additional need-based grant aid is a critical component of increasing access and affordability. I am pleased this bill does this by providing additional grant funds to Pell-eligible students over and above the increased maximum Pell Grant award that is included in the reauthorization bill [S. 1642].”
During consideration of H.R. 2669, the Senate rejected, 42-55, an amendment by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to remove the debt forgiveness program for public sector employees.
The bill now heads to conference, where differences between the House and Senate versions will be resolved.
