Require Evaluation Before Implementing Executive Wishlists Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 3438, which would exempt from the bill any rule related to increasing the affordability of higher education.

It is no secret that the rising cost of college is posing grave challenges to students and families across the country. Every year, Americans are being forced to take out higher loan amounts to pay for tuition, fees, textbooks, and housing. Today, student debt totals more than $1.3 trillion.

In my home State of Washington, 56 percent of graduates from 4-year universities leave school with debt and, on average, those students owe more than $23,000 upon graduation. At a time when Americans owe more in student loan debt than credit card debt, it is more critical than ever that we prioritize college affordability for all.

The issue is personal for me. When I was young, my father lost his job, and my parents never got back on track financially. But thanks to student loans and financial aid, I was still able to get a great education. With that education and hard work, I was able to build a successful career and be in the position that I am in today.

We need to make sure students have the same opportunities that were available to us. That starts by protecting the Department of Education's ability to administer vital financial aid programs like Pell grants and Federal student loans. These programs have enabled millions of low-income students to attend college. If we restrict the Department's ability to administer them, we are also endangering the millions of hardworking Americans who rely on their critical support.

This year alone, more than 8.4 million low-income students will benefit from Pell grants. Over 20 million student loans will be issued to help students and families afford the cost of college. We cannot put these essential resources at risk. They help ensure higher education is never out of reach, and they must be protected.

That is why I am offering this straightforward and narrowly tailored amendment. It simply protects the Department of Education's ability to administer Federal student aid programs that keep college affordable and accessible to all.

Today, too many families are struggling to put their kids through college, and we should be making it easier for them, not harder. My amendment will prevent the underlying bill from threatening the vital assistance offered each year through Pell grants, student loans, and other forms of financial aid.

Particularly as students are heading back to school in communities across the country, I urge my colleagues to support this important amendment.

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Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Chairman, the bill, as it exists, doesn't require challenges to have any merit, so it opens the door to frivolous lawsuits. The Office of Management and Budget did say that this would hit the billion-dollar threshold.

I do think that it is very, very important that we support my amendment so that we protect students today from harmful, unintended consequences of the REVIEW Act. I want to thank my colleague for being willing to work together on ways to improve college affordability going forward. I would ask that he support this amendment as part of that, but I would be happy to work with him on other issues as well.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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