Hey Folks, 

I figured I would get a GR update out to you before you head home for the weekend! 

Earlier this week COE reported that the House Education & Labor Committee was planning to mark up the College Affordability Act this week. The committee ended up passing it, reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, by a party line vote of 28 to 22. This is the first reauthorization in ten years. This bill does a few things that are listed below:

• Expand Pell Grants
• Make changes to the Federal Work Study program
• Direct more aid to minority-serving institutions
• Emphasize campus safety 
• Set new requirements on for-profit colleges

Bobby Scott (Chairman of the E&LC) called it a "downpayment" on tuition free college but believes it is modest enough to be passed by the Republican held Senate and White House. The estimated cost for this would be $400 billion over the next ten years. It is likely to pass in the Democrat-led House but unlikely to be considered in the Senate. 

Senator Lamar Alexander has introduced his own version of HEAR reauthorization: Student Aid Improvement Act.