Today, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a markup session to consider four bills aimed at increasing transparency and accessibility in higher education. Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) opened the session by referencing recent public skepticism toward postsecondary education, citing studies that show a growing number of Americans question its value.
"It is no secret that public trust in postsecondary education continues to wane. A Pew Research study a few months ago found that 70 percent of Americans think higher education is going in the wrong direction, an increase of nearly 15 percent since 2020. A Politico poll last week revealed that only 25 percent of Americans think college is worth the cost—and shockingly, 60 percent of college graduates say it wasn’t worth it. More and more students are wondering if they should even enter postsecondary education at all," Walberg said.
He continued, "Postsecondary education is a promise: that students who invest their time and money will receive an education worth it. I am proud that this Committee has been at the forefront of restoring trust in that promise. The reforms in the Working Families Tax Cuts made real progress, and today I’m excited to address four more bills that will benefit students as they continue their journey to enter the workforce."
The first bill discussed was H.R. 6392, known as the Home School Graduation Recognition Act, introduced by Rep. Mark Harris. Walberg explained its purpose: "First, we are making sure homeschoolers have the same access to higher education as everyone else. About 3 to 4 percent of students are homeschooled, and research shows they often outperform their public-school peers. That success continues at the college level: homeschoolers tend to perform better on the ACT, stay in college longer, and attain higher college GPAs. However, under current law, the Higher Education Act classifies homeschoolers as 'students who are not high school graduates.' That is misleading. Students who meet state and local law requirements are, in fact, high school graduates. H.R. 6392, the Home School Graduation Recognition Act by Rep. Mark Harris, clarifies that simple fact."
The second bill considered was H.R. 6472 from Rep. Moylan (R-GU), which would allow students from U.S. territories such as Guam to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities across the United States.
"Second, H.R. 6472... helps students from U.S. territories like Guam get in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities," Walberg stated during his remarks.
Two additional bills focused on price transparency for prospective college students and their families.
"H.R. 6498, the Student Financial Clarity Act... improves the College Scorecard to provide more information about college costs and student outcomes for prospective students," said Walberg regarding legislation introduced by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY) and Bob Onder (R-MO). The act also seeks to create a universal net price calculator tool so families can estimate expected costs over an entire program.
H.R. 6502—the College Financial Aid Clarity Act—was introduced by Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Young Kim (R-CA). According to Walberg: "H.R. 6502... ensures colleges cannot mislead students on financial aid offers." He cited a Government Accountability Office report indicating most colleges do not follow best practices when presenting financial aid packages.
Walberg addressed criticism about Republican efforts on higher education policy: "Some accuse Republicans of limiting 'access' to higher education. That is not true... Too many students face bureaucracy, hidden costs, and student debt for programs that don’t deliver a return on investment." He concluded by urging support for these measures.
