House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

Education Issues

Higher Education

In the 111th Congress, Republicans are continuing their efforts to make higher education more accessible and affordable to all American families. This includes a major push for financial aid simplification, making financial aid easier to apply for and simpler to administer. 

Often controversial with the higher education establishment, Republicans have brought greater transparency to an unchecked system so the consumers of higher education – parents and students – have more information than ever before about the education in which they’re investing.  Coupled with our already strong commitment to student aid, such accountability is going a long way toward ensuring students have a chance to go to college and take an important step closer to the American Dream.

The congressional Republican commitment to student aid is not new. In the 109th Congress (2005-2006), Republicans increased loan limits so students can access even more aid; reduced loan fees so students can keep more of what they borrow; established a new $4.5 billion grant program for low-income, high-achieving high school students; and slashed federal subsidies to lenders to save taxpayers billions and ensure that student aid programs are serving the needs of students first.  The fact is, however, unless colleges are held more accountable for their role in the cost crisis, too many low- and middle-income students will face the same financial hurdles, year after year.

Press Releases

Kline and Enzi Lead Bipartisan Effort to Protect Student Loans (November 18, 2009)

Kline Seeks Answers About Political Pressure on Colleges and Universities (November 9, 2009)

Kline Statement on Stimulus Spending and Education Jobs (October 19, 2009)

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Member Views

McKeon op-ed in The Washington Examiner on GOP Solutions to Help Americans Rebuild Their Savings (April 21, 2009)

McKeon op-ed in The Hill: Where the need for reform never rests (June 4, 2008)

McKeon op-ed at FlashReport.org: Economic Recovery Depends on Energy Solutions (May 30, 2008)

Fact Sheets

Student Aid & Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221) (September 17, 2009)

What The Experts Are Saying: Financial Aid Professionals Raise Doubt About Government Takeover of Student Lending (July 21, 2009)

H.R. 4137, The Higher Education Opportunity Act Conference Report (July 31, 2008)

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Dear Colleagues

We Can Do Better With a Scalpel to the Budget (May 12, 2009)

H.R. 4137 Reflects GOP Higher Education Priorities (July 31, 2008)

Save Transparency in Government Lending
OPPOSE the Petri #8 Amendment (February 7, 2008)

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Left Turns

Status of the Stimulus: Fuzzy Math, Wasteful Spending – and Unemployment Still Rising (November 4, 2009)

The Democrat “Student Aid” Bill: A Trojan Horse for More Entitlement Spending (July 10, 2007)

Floor Statements

McKeon Statement: Conference Report to H.R. 4137, the “Higher Education Opportunity Act” (July 31, 2008)

McKeon Statement on H.R. 3195, the ADA Amendments Act (June 25, 2008)

McKeon Statement on H.R 5715, the “Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008” (April 16, 2008)

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Committee Statements

Guthrie Statement: Hearing on "Ensuring Student Eligibility Requirements for Federal Aid" (October 14, 2009)

Guthrie Statement: Markup of H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (July 21, 2009)

Kline Statement: Markup of H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (July 21, 2009)

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