Senator Baldwin and Representative Levin Lead Effort to Create New Partnerships with States to Provide Students at Community Colleges and Technical Schools More Affordability

Statement

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Representative Andy Levin, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, today reintroduced the America's College Promise Act. This legislation would create a new federal-state partnership to provide two years of tuition-free access to community or technical college programs that lead to a degree or industry-recognized credential.

"Higher education should be a path to prosperity, not a path into suffocating debt. But unfortunately, college costs and student loan debt are holding back an entire generation and creating a drag on economic growth for our country," said Senator Baldwin. "The America's College Promise Act creates a new partnership with states to provide more students at community colleges and technical schools an affordable education. We need to out-educate the rest of the world in order to better compete in a 21st century, skills-based economy. The America's College Promise Act will help provide more students the opportunity to gain the skills needed to succeed and help move our economy forward."

"We have to make sure that the skills and credentials necessary to be successful in today's economy are attainable for working families," said Congressman Andy Levin. "The soaring cost of higher education coupled with the student debt crisis are expanding the wealth gap in our country and exacerbating the problem of income inequality. That's why today we are introducing a bill to make sure that a free education that leads to gainful employment is accessible to every American. The America's College Promise Act will transform higher education by guaranteeing two years of free community college, in addition to bolstering important parts of our higher education system like HBCUs. I'm so proud to work with Senator Baldwin and my House Democratic colleagues on this bill, and I look forward to advancing it through the House."

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