[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 198 (Wednesday, December 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Ms. Collins):
  S. 3028. A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to 
strengthen Federal-State partnerships in postsecondary education; to 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, most jobs require some kind of 
postsecondary credential, whether a certificate. an associate's or 
bachelor's degree. an advanced or professional degree, or an 
apprenticeship. Moreover. the workplace is changing with automation, 
artificial intelligence, and the so-called gig economy transforming the 
nature of work. Yet, postsecondary education seems increasingly risky 
or out of reach for too many Americans. That is why I am proud to be 
introducing the bipartisan Partnerships for Affordability and Student 
Success (PASS) Act with my colleague, Senator Collins.
  At a time when we need to equip people with the foundational skills 
and knowledge they need to succeed in this changing environment, we see 
college costs and student loan debt soaring. We see too many students 
who start postsecondary education unable to finish, leaving them in 
debt but without a degree or postsecondary credential. As a result, we 
see public confidence in our system of higher education declining. 
According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, 61 percent of 
Americans say that our system of higher education is headed in the 
wrong direction.
  The federal government cannot solve this crisis on its own. States 
are critical partners in making college accessible. affordable, and 
accountable. However, state funding for higher education is lower today 
than it was before the onset of the Great Recession. According to the 
latest State Higher Education Finance report published by the State 
Higher Education Executive Officers. public colleges and universities 
have become more reliant on tuition dollars for their operations. In 
2008, 35.8 percent of general operating costs were supported by tuition 
payments. In 2018, that percentage increased to 46.6 percent. Today, in 
27 states, tuition accounts for more than half of all higher education 
revenue. Moreover, the only federal-state partnership program for need-
based financial aid--the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership 
(LEAP) program--has not received appropriations since Fiscal Year 2010.
  It is time to renew the federal-state partnership for higher 
education, first enacted in 1972 on a bipartisan basis. The PASS Act 
will revitalize the federal-state partnership through a formula grant 
to states with a focus on need-based aid, grants to institutions to 
improve student outcomes and reduce college costs, and public 
accountability.
  In exchange for this new federal investment, states must make a 
commitment to maintain their investment in higher education and have a 
comprehensive plan for higher education with measurable goals for 
access, affordability, and student outcomes. At least half of the 
funding must be dedicated to need-based student financial aid. States 
also have the option of awarding grants to colleges and universities or 
partnerships between institutions of higher education and non-profit 
organizations to improve student outcomes, including enrollment, 
completion, and employment. and to develop innovative methods for 
reducing college costs. I am pleased to have the support of the 
National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, the 
Center for Law and Social Policy, the Institute for Higher Education 
Policy, the Association of Community College Trustees, and the National 
Skills Coalition.
  This generation is facing a crisis in college affordability and 
student loan debt. With the PASS Act, we are providing the resources 
and incentives for states to take more responsibility to address 
college affordability and student loan debt and improve student 
outcomes. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and look 
forward to working with them to include these and other key reforms in 
the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

                          ____________________