Working to enable more students from the First Congressional District to attend college, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) voted for important legislation which will make higher education opportunities more affordable and accessible.

"Access to higher education is a right and privilege that all Kentuckians should have," Whitfield said. "Unfortunately, high tuition prices, an overly complex federal student aid application process and a struggling student loan system are putting a college degree further out of reach for too many Kentucky students. I am proud to support this legislation to help rein in excessive tuition hikes and make it possible for more First District residents to obtain a college degree."

Whitfield voted for, and the House passed, H.R. 4137, the Higher Education and Opportunity Act. This legislation will reform the nation's higher education system, strengthen student financial aid opportunities, shine a spotlight on college price increases and update a number of education programs to better meet the needs of changing student populations. The legislation Whitfield supported today will encourage colleges to rein in price increases by requiring schools with the greatest cost increases to disclose information about what is driving up their costs; provide consumers with easy access to helpful financial aid information with a one-stop website; simplify the federal student aid application process; expand college access and support for low-income and minority students and restore integrity and accountability to the student loan programs. The bill will also increase college aid and support for veterans and military families, make textbook costs more manageable and ensure equal college opportunities for students with disabilities.

The Higher Education Act (HEA) was established in 1965 to help low-and middle-income students gain access to college. Today, the federal government invests tens of billions of dollars annually in direct aid to students and hundreds of millions of dollars more are provided to colleges and universities. However, cost increases year after year have raised concerns that higher education institutions are not being held accountable to students, parents and taxpayers - the consumers of higher education.

The Higher Education and Opportunity Act will restore the HEA to its original mission of providing access to college for low- and middle-income students while strengthening the nation's higher education system and student loan programs.