Democratic lawmakers are pushing the next education package in the U.S. House of Representatives that would significantly increase need-based scholarships and expand funding to make college more affordable for students and families without having to tackle heavy debt.

“Most people can’t afford tuition, room and board,” said Scott, rating member of the House Education and Workforce Committee. “Tuition is approximately $50,000 per year and without significant assistance they will not be able to attend.”

U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) speaks during a news conference on the Child Care Is Essential and Child Care for Economic Recovery Acts at the U.S. Capitol on July 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Last month, committee members announced the “Action Plan for Student Success,” which consists of seven bills geared toward lowering the cost of education, providing students with resources to access higher education and providing graduate support.

The committee’s goal is to adopt “Act now to scale back the obstacles to success” which would double Pell Grant awards and make loans more affordable and accessible.

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“We have long touted college graduation as a ticket to the American Dream. Today, that dream is even further out of reach due to crippling student debt,” U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fl. and rating member of the subcommittee, said wa statement. This initiative “would ensure that this generation is the last to experience the student loan debt crisis in America.”

To make this initiative work, Chamber members also need to convey “University Transparency Act” which requires colleges and universities to supply students and their families with data showing students’ admissions performance and whether students were in a position to find jobs after graduation. Scott said such a move would help students resolve the best way to invest in their education by knowing job placement rates in each field.

An indication for Morgan State University, October 4, 2023, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

“Unfortunately, the current lack of college student data makes it difficult for students and families to make decisions when choosing a college,” U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said earlier in a press release.

Members of the House also need to pass “React, innovate, achieve and empower“, “Possibility to deal with the law on hunger at universities“And”Improving mental health and stopping suicide through the Campus Planning Act” to enhance accommodations for students with disabilities, support students experiencing hunger, and expand access to mental health resources.

Scott said he proposed that students who cannot afford food have access to SNAP advantages and that colleges keep “at least one dorm and one cafeteria open” during summer and winter breaks.

“We also need to ensure that schools increase their funding significantly so that if something like the Covid-19 pandemic happens in the future, schools will have the resources to survive such an emergency,” he said.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

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