Courtney Statement on President Obama's Proposals to Make College Affordable

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) released the following statement after President Obama spoke in Buffalo, NY, to unveil plans to control the cost of college and reduce student debt:

“When I was with President Obama two weeks ago as he signed the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act into law, he said that our work to make college affordable is not done. I agree. Through my work on the House education committee and my conversations with students and families in eastern Connecticut, it is clear to me that despite the recent victory of keeping student loan rates affordable, there is much more that needs to be done to keep higher education within reach. Congress should not simply help graduates manage debt – we must take action to bring tuition costs down and make college more affordable so that young families are not saddled with astronomical debt.

“The president’s speech today is an important first step in a critical conversation about reducing the cost of college and maintaining the ladder into the middle class that a higher education can provide. Good paying and high quality jobs in Connecticut and around the country increasingly require a post-high school degree, and it is still the best way for a young person to invest in his or her future. The steps the president announced today to promote new accountability standards for schools, foster innovative uses for technology to improve curriculums, and provide better debt management options will help lay the groundwork for the coming debate in Congress over reauthorizing the Higher Education Act.

“As a member of the House Education And Workforce Committee that will be on the front lines of this important effort, I will continue to work towards a higher education system that is accessible and affordable for eastern Connecticut students and families.”

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