How the PROSPER Act’s Republican Supporters are Harming Their Own Constituents — District by District
Late last year, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce released their proposal to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, a major piece of legislation that is central to governing postsecondary education and student financial aid. Republicans in the House of Representatives led by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-5) have defined their vision for higher education—dubbed the PROSPER Act, the bill includes over $14 billion in cuts to student aid programs. These funding cuts coupled with the elimination of accountability measures on for-profit and religious schools would result in a net loss of $31 billion to students and borrowers, according to recent analysis by the Center for American Progress.
Despite being opposed by the Pentagon, veterans groups, colleges and universities, and a coalition student and consumer advocates, the PROSPER Act was voted out of committee and is currently waiting to be scheduled for vote on the House floor. If voted on, this bill would serve as a dangerous marker for what our Members of Congress consider acceptable for higher education policy and student aid funding. What is lost on the Members of Congress who voted for the PROSPER Act is just how much it will harm their own constituents who rely on the programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness, various types of grants, and subsidized federal student loans.