Alexander Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the Higher Education Act

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 6 – Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today made the following statement on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act this Sunday, Nov. 8:  

“Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the original Higher Education Act, which gave millions of students the opportunity to attend the college of their choice, earn a degree and get a leg up into the middle class. Today, our students have access to the best colleges and universities in the world, thanks chiefly to the autonomy, competition and choice found in our system of higher education. But, as we prepare for the ninth reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, we need to make sure that requirements and regulations from Washington, no matter how well-intentioned, strengthen students’ access to a quality education, rather than hobble it.”

He added, “We have been working in our committee to produce a bill with measures to reduce burdensome regulations on America’s colleges and universities—at the same time encouraging them to control their costs, operate more efficiently, and help students graduate more quickly with less debt. Most importantly, we must ensure none of these measures do anything to challenge the autonomy and independence that is at the heart of our education system and has driven our colleges and universities to create the best system of higher education in the world.”

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For access to this release and Chairman Alexander’s other statements, click here.