Issue Position: Supporting Higher Education

Issue Position

Oklahoma's future and that of its children, requires that higher education is both affordable and available for all those who desire to attend. Having affordable, quality higher education benefits not only those attending college, but all Oklahomans. With a better-educated workforce, Oklahoma can attract, retain and expand high-paying jobs.

I am working in Congress to improve higher education by meeting with educators and students, listening to their concerns and successes, and taking action. I have voted for increased student financial assistance and promoted cutting-edge scientific research in Oklahoma to provide more educational and economic opportunities for students. I am also a strong supporter of programs like GEAR UP and TRIO, which are programs that help disadvantaged students prepare for and succeed in college.

I also fully support federal student loans that give millions of students access to college who otherwise would not be able to attend. However, I believe that these loans should be driven through the private sector so that students and schools have the option to choose the best loans that work for them. Unfortunately, the Congress and the Obama administration recently pushed through legislation that removed the private sector entirely from federal student loans. I am strongly opposed to this change because it will only create more government bureaucracy, eliminate student choice, and create undue burdens on individual colleges and universities, thus causing them to raise tuition and fees on students.

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