Murray Introduces Legislation to Remove Barriers, Provide Support for Homeless and Foster Students in Higher Education

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee introduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2015, legislation that would remove barriers and help ensure more students from all walks of life have strong and clear pathways into and through higher education.

"For many students, higher education can be a ticket to the middle class, so it is vitally important that students from all walks of life have the chance to go to college, further their education, and succeed," said Senator Murray. "This legislation would remove some of the incredible barriers that homeless and foster students face in accessing higher education, and it will help ensure they have the support they need to pursue their degree."

Murray's legislation would ask colleges and universities to improve outreach, resources, and policies for homeless and foster youth, including streamlining eligibility determinations for financial aid, providing housing options between terms, and designating a single point of contact for these students. The bill also requires the federal government to provide ways to help resolve questions about a student's independence and ensure its programs identify, recruit, and prepare homeless and foster students for college. The bill also encourages states to grant in-state tuition rates for students who haven't had stable residency.

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