WASHINGTON – Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) is announcing the opening of a national online forum to give college students and parents the opportunity to communicate directly with Congress about the rising costs of college tuition and student loan debt.  Kildee is encouraging 5^th District students, parents and educators to submit e-testimony about the choices being made about higher education in their households as tuition costs and student loan debt threaten to deny the dreams of a college education for many low- and middle-income Americans.

“The cost of tuition should never stand between a qualified student and a college education, yet today, too many students are deferring or forgoing college because of the high price tag,” said Kildee.  “Instead of trying to bridge the gap between prospective students and employers who seek high-skilled graduates, Congress has made it more difficult for low- and middle-class students to use a college education as a stepping stone to economic security.  This online forum will give college students and parents the opportunity to communicate directly with Congress on how the rising costs of college tuition and mounting student loan debt have affected their lives.”

Over the next two weeks, the lawmakers will invite e-testimony from college students and parents. The House lawmakers have also invited student group representatives and experts to submit statements.  Current college students and parents should submit written or video testimonies sharing their experiences in financing a college education and their thoughts about what Congress can do to improve college access and affordability for all Americans.

House Democrats have held three other online forums in the past year, so the voices of everyday Americans can be heard in the absence of hearings on issues of major importance that Republicans controlling Congress will not hold.  A similar e-hearing last year allowed thousands of General Motors and Delphi workers, retirees and their families in the 5^th District and all over America to speak out about the future of the troubled American auto industry.  E-hearings also make it possible for people all over the country to participate at little or no expense and on their own schedules.

Today, students graduate from college with an average of $17,500 in debt. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress have failed to make college affordability a priority. In February, Congress cut $12 billion out of the federal student aid programs in the largest raid on student aid ever.  Just last month, House Republicans rejected a Democratic proposal to make college more affordable by halving interest rates on subsidized students loans—those that go to students most in need.  Kildee and other Democrats responded by introducing a bill last week which would have the same effect.  Under this new legislation, the typical undergraduate student borrower with $17,500 in student loan debt would save $5,600 over the life of his/her loan. 

“Reducing the costs of college for students and families is vital to ensuring America’s economic competitiveness and continued prosperity, themes the President talked about in his State of the Union address,” Kildee said. “Congress needs to hear from families who are weighing the choices of a college education for their children and how that can affect our workforce in the global economy for generations to come.”

Kildee and other House Democrats sponsoring this e-hearing will write and distribute a report based on the testimony they receive, and they will enter the testimony into the official Congressional Record.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE E-HEARING

Current college students and parents may send written or video testimonies sharing their experiences in financing a college education and their thoughts about what Congress can do to improve college access and affordability for all Americans to CollegeForAll@mail.house.gov. Written testimony should be 500 words or less. Witnesses must include their name, college or university, home address, phone number, and email address (for verification purposes only); but only their name, hometown, and university will be posted along with their testimony. For those wishing to submit video testimony, the format must be in Windows Media, and no longer than 3 minutes. Please also include a transcript of the video.  Submissions without complete contact information will not be posted.

The e-hearing website is: http://edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/makecollegeaffordable.shtml.