Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6472) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for in-state tuition rates for certain residents of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6472

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act''. SECTION 2. IN-STATE TUITION FOR CERTAIN RESIDENTS OF GUAM, THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, AMERICAN SAMOA, AND THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS.

(a) In-State Tuition Rates.--Part C of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1015 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 135 the following: ``SEC. 135A. IN-STATE TUITION RATES FOR CERTAIN RESIDENTS OF GUAM, THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, AMERICAN SAMOA, AND THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS.

``(a) In General.--A public institution of higher education that receives assistance under this Act shall not charge a covered individual tuition or fees for attendance at such institution at a rate that is greater than the rate charged for residents of the State in which such institution is located.

``(b) Covered Individual.--In this section, the term `covered individual' means an individual who--

``(1) is a resident of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the United States Virgin Islands; and

``(2) is a national of the United States (as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a))).''.

(b) Program Participation Agreement.--Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1094(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(30) The institution will comply with the requirements of section 135A, as applicable.''.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6472, sponsored by Congressman James Moylan of Guam, which allows residents of U.S. territories to access in-State tuition rates at public universities across the U.S.

I am proud to rise in support of H.R. 6472, which ensures students of the U.S. territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands receive in-State tuition at public universities across the country.

I am pleased that all of the Delegates from each U.S. territory are original cosponsors of the bill and that it received strong bipartisan support in the committee markup.

Under H.R. 6472, public postsecondary institutions will be required to offer in-State tuition rates to residents of U.S. territories. Through this bill, a student from Guam would pay the same tuition at a public university just as any in-State student.

This isn't a novel idea. Under current law, servicemembers and their families already receive in-State tuition rates, creating new pathways for more Americans to get high-quality educations at a competitive cost.

However, H.R. 6472 doesn't just help students. It helps the territories, too. After graduation, students can return home with advanced degrees and credentials they can reinvest back into their homes and local economies.

This isn't just an investment in our students. It is an investment in the economic strength of American territories. Students can contribute their newfound expertise to help develop new industries and drive economic development.

That investment also strengthens American national security. As competition with our adversaries, like China, intensify in the Pacific and drug trafficking continues in South and Central America, we must ensure our territories have the infrastructure and brainpower needed to promote a strong national security posture in the region.

Last year, we passed the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which included some of the most conservative reforms to higher education in decades, massively lowering costs and helping create new pathways for students to chase the American Dream.

We now have a chance to build off that success of the Working Families Tax Cut Act and lower postsecondary education costs for U.S. residents in U.S. territories so they can continue supporting our vital military operations.

Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I look forward to passing H.R. 6472 and supporting our territories.

Mr. Speaker, as President Trump said in his State of Union Address last week, America's military is the strongest in the world, but we continue to have enemies around every corner of the globe who would like to undermine our power.

That is why H.R. 6472 is so important. This bill ensures residents of U.S. territories receive vital workforce training and skills as our U.S. military continues to operate out of these critical geographical outposts.

The working families tax cuts were a strong step in lowering costs for students and borrowers. Now, we are continuing these efforts and supporting our military and our territories.

As chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, I am steadfast in my commitment to reducing college costs and opening up workforce pipelines. I thank Congressman Moylan again for sponsoring this legislation and helping expand educational opportunities for residents of U.S. territories.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source