U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has introduced legislation aimed at reforming the American higher education system. The proposed bill addresses the issues faced by students graduating with significant debt and degrees that do not lead to employment.
Dr. Cassidy stated, "American higher education has lost its purpose. Students are graduating with degrees that won’t get them a job and insurmountable debt that they can’t pay back." He emphasized the need for a system that prioritizes student success and prepares Americans for competition in the 21st-century economy.
The legislation aims to make higher education more affordable by eliminating loan programs that have contributed to rising tuition costs. It seeks to prevent taxpayer-funded loans for degrees deemed unbeneficial and ends President Biden's student loan policies which Dr. Cassidy argues unfairly burden taxpayers who did not attend college or have already paid off their loans.
Additional measures include strengthening Pell Grants to address budget shortfalls and establishing Workforce Pell Grants to increase access to technical education for low-income students. This aligns with President Trump's objective of repatriating skilled jobs from abroad.
The bill also proposes savings of at least $300 billion for American taxpayers while aiming to reduce health insurance premiums through changes in insurance company practices.
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