[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 965]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCING THE MAKE COLLEGE AFFORDABLE ACT

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                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 2005

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Make College 
Affordable Act of 2005. This legislation helps millions of Americans 
afford college by making college tuition tax deductible. Today the 
average cost of education at a state university is $9,802 per year, and 
the cost of education at a private university is $31,052 per year! 
These high costs have left many middle class American families 
struggling to afford college for their children, who are often 
ineligible for financial aid. Therefore, middle class students have no 
choice but to obtain student loans, and thus leave college saddled with 
massive debt.
  Even families who plan and save well in advance for their children's 
education may have a difficult time because their savings are eroded by 
taxation and inflation. The Make College Affordable Act will help these 
middle class students by allowing them, or their parents or guardians 
who claim them as dependents, to deduct the cost of college tuition as 
well as the cost of student loan repayments.
  The Make College Affordable Act will also help older or 
nontraditional students looking to improve their job skills or prepare 
for a career change, by pursuing higher education. In today's economy, 
the average American worker can expect to change jobs, and even 
careers, several times during his or her working life, making it more 
important than ever that working Americans be able to devote their 
resources to continuing their educations.
  Helping the American people use their own money to ensure every 
qualified American can receive a college education is one of the best 
investments this Congress can make in the future. I therefore urge my 
colleagues to help strengthen America by ensuring more Americans can 
obtain college educations by cosponsoring the Make College Affordable 
Act.

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