Murray Statement on 50th Anniversary of the Higher Education Act
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement commemorating the upcoming 50th Anniversary of the Higher Education Act, which was signed into law on November 8, 1965.
“Fifty years ago, President Johnson signed into law the Higher Education Act of 1965, opening the doors to higher education for millions of students and providing them with an opportunity to gain a foothold into the middle class. Despite progress, students continue to face significant barriers to accessing a quality, affordable higher education, making the commitment of the HEA as important today as it was in 1965.
“In Congress, we should be doing everything we can to break down those barriers so that more students from all walks of life have access to a quality education at an affordable cost. Too many low and middle-income students today are simply unable to finance a college education without taking on unmanageable levels of debt. As we work to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, I’m going to continue to be focused on how to best make college more affordable, reduce the crushing burden of student debt, provide a safe learning environment, and ensure all students have the chance to further their education.”
Read President Johnson’s remarks at the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 here.
