Sanders to Vote against Higher Education Bill that Continues Republican Raid on Student Aid

Sanders to Vote against Higher Education Bill that Continues Republican Raid on Student Aid

Washington DC, - Congressman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today voiced his opposition to H.R. 609, a Republican-backed higher education bill that continues the Republican leadership's raid on student aid. The bill is being debated on the floor of the House today and the House is expected to vote on the legislation tomorrow. H.R. 609 does nothing to reverse the draconian $12 billion cuts in student aid passed earlier this year as part of the Republican budget reconciliation bill. The bill also continues to drastically under-fund Pell grants for low-income students by freezing the maximum Pell Grant scholarship at just $200 above current levels through 2013.

Sanders said, "There's a real crisis in the high cost of college education and unfortunately this bill does nothing to address it. We've got to expand the Pell grant program, not level fund it. We've got to increase funding for higher education rather than cut it. I'm going to vote no on this bill and fight for something which will be much, much better."

http://bernie.house.gov/documents/document.asp?issueNum=4834