Bonamici, Oregon Leaders Question Proposals That Will Harm Higher Education

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) convened a roundtable discussion about legislation in Congress that will affect college affordability and access to higher education. Oregon higher education leaders shared their concerns about the negative consequences for Oregon students, colleges and universities, and student loan borrowers from the Republican tax bill and a new partisan bill to rewrite the Higher Education Act.

"Oregonians value higher education, and I am committed to making college affordable and accessible," said Bonamici. "The partisan Republican proposals on taxes and federal higher education would move us in the wrong direction. I've heard concerns from students and higher education leaders about these bills, which will make college more expensive for low-income students and working families, undermine consumer protections for student loan borrowers, and take away accountability over for-profit institutions."

"The Higher Education Reauthorization and the tax reform bills in Congress will put a college education further out of reach for middle and low income families," said John Wykoff, Deputy Director of the Oregon Community College Association. "The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act puts student financial aid at risk and places additional burdens on institutions that would likely result in higher tuition. It also will increase the cost of college loans for our lowest income students. The tax bill will simply make it harder for students and families to afford an education and harder for state and local governments to support students and institutions. It would represent a big step backward for students and families trying to afford a college education."

"The current tax bill and HEA reauthorization proposals are nothing more than a slap in the face to students who have the most barriers to higher education," said Lamar Wise, Executive Director of the Oregon Student Association. "Students need relief now, yet the latest edit of the HEA would make college more expensive and less accessible. The PROSPER Act restricts funding for rural community colleges where some of our most vulnerable populations lie, falls far short of making the improvements we need to expand Federal Pell Grants, and prioritizes corporate profits over students. The HEA reauthorization proposal also does not provide adequate support for survivors of campus sexual assault. Students should have access to an affordable, safe education. OSA will continue working with Congresswoman Bonamici and other education champions to stand up for these values."

"Access for all students to vibrant, innovative and respectful university education is the heart of Portland State's mission," said Portland State University President Rahmat Shoureshi. "We are grateful for Congresswoman Bonamici's long-standing commitment to upholding these fundamental values and we appreciate the opportunity to have an ongoing conversation about how best to achieve that outcome in the Higher Education Act."

Republican leadership released the final tax bill just hours ago. The version passed by the House contained harmful provisions that put higher education out of reach for many working families. These provisions included eliminating the student loan interest deduction, treating graduate school tuition waivers as taxable income, and imposing an excise tax on some university endowments, which are often used to fund scholarships for low-income students.

On Tuesday of this week, the Education and the Workforce Committee marked up the PROSPER Act, a partisan proposal to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. The legislation would make college more expensive for low-income students and working families, undermine consumer protections for student loan borrowers, weaken protections for victims of sexual assault on college campuses, and allow for-profit institutions unprecedented access to federal funds with little accountability. During the 13-hour markup of the bill, Bonamici offered many amendments to make higher education more accessible and affordable, and to preserve and enhance consumer protections for student loan borrowers.

Bonamici is an outspoken advocate for student loan borrowers and has called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to "stop putting the interest of for-profit colleges over interests of students." Bonamici has introduced standalone bills to help struggling student loan borrowers avoid default, assist college-bound students with disabilities, and boost apprenticeships.