Murray: White House Higher Education Proposal “Would End Up Hurting Students,” Commits to Working with Chairman Alexander to “Find Real and Serious Solutions”

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement on the White House proposal to reform the Higher Education Act. Senator Murray is currently working with Chairman Alexander on a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act that addresses student-centered priorities, including addressing college affordability, increasing accountability, expanding access to historically underrepresented students, and improving campus safety.

“The White House’s proposal is a feeble attempt to claim the Trump Administration is helping students by identifying one symptom of rising student debt, while completely ignoring the root cause—that college costs are rising exponentially and most students can’t afford college without taking on massive amounts of debt. In fact, this proposal would end up hurting students by reducing the amount of federal aid for students and taking billions out of the pockets of borrowers. Chairman Alexander and I have agreed to work toward a comprehensive reauthorization that makes college more affordable, so I look forward to working with him to find real and serious solutions that actually help students afford higher education.”

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