[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5943]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          SIMPLIFY AND STRENGTHEN FEDERAL SCHOOL AID PROGRAMS

  (Mr. WALBERG asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, for many young people, higher education has 
become a very expensive dream because of rising costs. The average new 
graduate is struggling to pay off more than $25,000 in debt while 
hunting for a job in this stagnant economy.
  While Washington can play a role in fixing the problem, we cannot 
look to the Federal Government alone to fix this problem. Instead, we 
must work with State governments, schools, students, and parents to 
find a solution.
  Within the past decade, costs have risen 66 percent beyond the rate 
of inflation. Instead of trying to work with schools, the Federal 
Government has been busy implementing policies that increase their 
costs. My colleagues and I on the Higher Education and Workforce 
Training Subcommittee are looking at how to simplify and strengthen 
Federal aid programs.
  It's obvious more needs to be done to help students and families make 
the best decision possible about their education at a price they can 
afford. My goal is to continue to identify and remove unnecessary and 
costly burdens from this process and put the dream of higher education 
in reach of more students.

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