TEMPE - Over storms of applause and standing ovations, House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi and three other U.S. representatives from Arizona laid out
plans to improve college affordability yesterday.
Measures to
lower student loan interest rates and raising funds for Pell Grants
were the main issues, and the politicians, who came together on the ASU
campus, said they are inching forward in Congress with bipartisan
support.
Reps. Raul Grijalva from Tucson, Ed Pastor from Phoenix and Barbara Lee from California also joined the discussion.
"The
urgent task has begun: to put on the brakes and stop the raid on higher
education," Grijalva said. "I look forward to that challenge."
The
presentation was a success because it clearly defined the Democrats'
plans to support higher education over the next years, said Devin
Mauney, chairman of the Arizona Students' Association.
While he
hopes other issues such as subsidized loans for parents and other
support measures will also be tackled, Mauney said the plans to work on
interest rates and Pell Grants are "great news for all of us."
"I hope they continue to act with vision in the future," he said.
The
representatives signed onto a bill that would cut interest rates in
half on undergraduate subsidized Stafford loans during the course of
five years.
The change from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent would
save the average student starting in 2007 more than $2,000 over the
life of the loan, according to the Arizona Public Interest Research
group, which worked with the ASU student government to put on the event.
The
average student loan debt for graduating seniors across the country is
more than $19,000, according to the National Center for Education
Statistics.
The legislators also said they want to boost the
maximum amount that is available for Pell Grant scholarships, which are
given to low-income students.
A Congress budget proposal included a $260 increase, raising the highest amount available to $4,310.
But
Grijalva said he wants to raise the amount even further to make sure
everyone can afford to go to college, regardless of income.
"We closed the door to the American dream for too many people," he said.
Pelosi encouraged students to stand up for their interests and put pressure on politicians to act on their behalf.
"The
leverage has changed in Washington, D.C.," she said. "The power is with
you. No more will you see legislation coming to the floor that will cut
student assistance."
A UA student leader hailed the speeches, saying she felt empowered and understood by the representatives.
"She
showed the difference that we made," said Deema Tabbara, ASA director
and political science senior. "It was motivating. I was blown away and
really impressed."
