Walberg Weekly Wrap-Up

Op-Ed

WALBERG WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Energy Fight Continues While Speaker Pelosi Promotes Book

After Speaker Nancy Pelosi adjourned the House of Representatives August 1 for a five week vacation, I and several other members of Congress stayed on the House floor to give speeches about the fact that leadership in Congress packed its bags and headed off for a five week vacation rather than debate and vote on energy policy to increase all forms of American energy. Speaker Pelosi had the lights turned off in the House chamber and forced CSPAN to turn off its cameras, which only emboldened us in our efforts to speak out.

On Monday and Tuesday, I returned to Washington, D.C. and continued to call on Speaker Pelosi to hold a debate and vote on increasing American energy production and bringing down gasoline prices. Speaking to assembled tourists, interns and guests in the House chamber, I called for an comprehensive, "all of the above" energy plan with more drilling and more alternatives.

While I and other members of Congress spoke on the House floor, Speaker Pelosi was busy promoting her new book, which is currently ranked 1,769 on the list of Amazon bestsellers. In fact, Speaker Pelosi even made time to stop in Ann Arbor Thursday night for an event to promote her book. Unfortunately, customers and local residents were only granted an audience with the Speaker if they purchased a copy of her book.

As the Speaker continues her book tour while failing to bring the House back into session to vote on energy policy, I will not stop calling for a comprehensive energy plan. High gas prices demand action, and right now the American people are being let down by Congressional leadership.

I am willing to work with Democrats to pass a new energy bill, and there are several pro-production Democrats willing to work on a bill that increases American energy production, develops alternatives and breaks our dependence on foreign oil. Before Congress adjourned, a bi-partisan group of legislators unveiled a new energy plan that would lift most restrictions on offshore drilling and encourage the development of alternative energy sources. This is a strong attempt to break through partisanship and work on a comprehensive energy plan.

We need to make such a bill a reality, especially with the pocketbooks of families really feeling the effects of high prices. Many of you provided me with stories about how high prices have affected you and your families, and I invite you to read some of these stories on my blog at walberg.house.gov/Blog.

If you were unable to provide a story and would like to do so, I am carrying five gallon gasoline cans around south-central Michigan to collect gas receipts and stories from my constituents. You can also mail your gas receipts and notes to my Jackson Office at 800 West Ganson Street, Jackson, 49202, and I will continue to share your stories as we fight for a comprehensive energy plan.

Ensuring Access, Accountability, Quality in Higher Education

Just before Congress adjourned last week, I had the opportunity to serve on the conference committee for the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R. 4137). As part of this committee, I worked to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of this bill.

The goal of this legislation is to make college more affordable, accessible and obtainable for prospective students. The conference report calls for greater disclosure of comparable, useful data to help students and families make well-informed higher education choices. By empowering consumers with good information, I believe access, accountability and quality can be achieved without unnecessary red tape or federal intrusion.

For students and families grappling with rising college costs, the bill establishes college affordability comparison tools to help put the cost increases into perspective. Students will be able to search, sort and compare key cost indicators for every college in the country. Lists will be created to identify the most expensive institutions, the least expensive institutions and the institutions with the greatest cost increases, by percentage. This will enable students and parents to make informed decisions about their postsecondary education options.

Institutions with the greatest cost increases will be required to disclose additional information, identify what is driving their cost increases and what can be done to address them. This is not meant as punishment, but as a tool to be used to address those areas where costs are out of line with other similar institutions.

The bill also strengthens the Pell Grant program by increasing funding for Pell Grants by 37 percent, and adds flexibility for students by allowing funding for summer school, which will help students who wish to complete their education more quickly. It also ensures homeschooled students are eligible for Academic Competitiveness Grants and makes clear that institutions can admit homeschooled students without risking the loss of their Title IV eligibility.

Another important part of this bill is the simplification of the process to apply for federal financial aid (FAFSA is the typical form used). The FAFSA is the gateway to our federal student aid system, yet for many students and families, the form can be daunting. With more than 100 questions, 8 pages and several supplemental worksheets, the form can sometimes be an obstacle to those students most in need of student aid. This legislation dramatically shortened the form and made applying easier by creating a simple, two page "FAFSA-EZ" form. I believe cutting paperwork and bureaucracy is a step in the right direction to make the financial aid process easier for students and parents.

By streamlining the financial aid process, cutting bureaucracy, increasing Pell Grants and pushing for more transparency, I am working to make college more affordable and accessible and to make colleges more accountable. Together, we can ensure our children are educated to compete and win in the 21st Century.

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