[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 143--SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE 
                  ACCESS TO DEBT-FREE HIGHER EDUCATION

  Mr. SCHATZ (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Warren, Mr. Reed of Rhode 
Island, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions:

                              S. Res. 143

       Whereas the economic competitiveness of the United States 
     in the global economy requires a well-educated workforce;
       Whereas current and future young people in the United 
     States should have the same opportunity offered to those who 
     went to college in previous generations, including the 
     ability to attend State colleges and universities without 
     taking on burdensome debt;
       Whereas, in 2015, higher education is more important than 
     ever because it is an essential step to entering and 
     remaining in the middle class;
       Whereas, because of the importance of higher education, the 
     United States should expand the opportunity to pursue and 
     attain higher education to more people than had that 
     opportunity in the past;
       Whereas public investment in higher education pays off, as 
     evidenced by the fact that workers with college degrees earn 
     more money, pay more taxes, and rely less on government 
     services; and
       Whereas student loan debt saddles the very students who 
     most depend on a college degree to level the economic playing 
     field with a burden that--
       (1) constrains the career choices and hurts the credit 
     rating of the students;
       (2) prevents people from fully participating in the economy 
     by purchasing goods and services; and
       (3) threatens essential milestones of the American dream, 
     including the purchase of a home or car, starting a family, 
     and saving for retirement: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports efforts--
       (1) to ensure that, through a combination of efforts, all 
     students have access to debt-free higher education, defined 
     to mean having no debt upon graduation from all public 
     institutions of higher education;
       (2) to provide support to States so States can make 
     increased investments in higher education that will result in 
     lower tuition and costs for students;
       (3) to increase financial aid to students to help them 
     afford the total cost of college attendance without taking on 
     debt;
       (4) to encourage innovation by States and institutions of 
     higher education to cut costs for students and make college 
     more affordable by increasing efficiency and enabling speedy 
     and less-costly degree completion; and
       (5) to reduce the burden of existing student loan debt.

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