(This post was updated on March 18, 2010 to reflect final changes made to SAFRA.)
Education Reconciliation: The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
A Landmark Investment in America’s Economic Future
Now more than ever, Americans need affordable, quality education opportunities to help make our economy strong and competitive again. President Obama has identified an opportunity to make historic investments in our economic future by making college dramatically more affordable – at no cost to taxpayers. (See how SAFRA will benefit students living in each congressional district.)
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was included in the health care reconciliation bill that passed on March 21, 2010 by a vote of 220-211 and signed into law on March 30, 2010, embraces the president’s challenge. It will help us reach his goal of producing the most college graduates by 2020 by making the single largest investment in federal student aid ever. Specifically, these provisions will:
Education Reconciliation: The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
A Landmark Investment in America’s Economic Future
Now more than ever, Americans need affordable, quality education opportunities to help make our economy strong and competitive again. President Obama has identified an opportunity to make historic investments in our economic future by making college dramatically more affordable – at no cost to taxpayers. (See how SAFRA will benefit students living in each congressional district.)
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which was included in the health care reconciliation bill that passed on March 21, 2010 by a vote of 220-211 and signed into law on March 30, 2010, embraces the president’s challenge. It will help us reach his goal of producing the most college graduates by 2020 by making the single largest investment in federal student aid ever. Specifically, these provisions will:
Invest the bill’s savings to make college affordable and help more
Americans graduate
Student Loan Reform: What's In It For You
Myths vs. Facts about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
Support for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
White House Fact Sheets:
- Invests $36 billion over 10 years to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and to $5,975 by 2017. Starting in 2013, the scholarship will be linked to match rising costs-of-living by indexing it to the Consumer Price Index. This includes an investment of $13.5 billion to fund a shortfall in the Pell Grant scholarship program due to increased demand for the scholarship.
- Invests $750 million to bolster college access and completion support for students. It will increase funding for the College Access Challenge Grant program, and will also fund innovative programs at states and institutions that focus on increasing financial literacy and helping retain and graduate students.
- Makes federal loans more affordable for borrowers to repay by investing $1.5 billion to strengthen an Income-Based Repayment program that currently allows borrowers to cap their monthly federal student loan payments at 15 percent of their discretionary income. These new provisions would lower this monthly cap to just 10 percent for new borrowers after 2014.
- Invests $2.55 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities
and Minority-Serving Institutions to provide students with the support they need to stay in school and
graduate.
- Invests $2 billion in a competitive grant program for community
colleges to develop and improve educational or career training programs.
- Converts all new federal student lending to the stable, effective and cost-efficient Direct Loan program. Beginning July 1, 2010, all new federal student loans will be originated through the Direct Loan program, instead of through the federally-guaranteed student loan program. The Direct Loan program is a more reliable lender for students and more cost-effective for taxpayers.
- Keeps jobs in America. Under the bill, 100 percent of Direct Loans
will be serviced by private lenders. Lenders will compete for contracts to service all federal student loans,
which will guarantee borrowers high quality customer service and preserve jobs. Unlike loans made by banks, Direct
Loans can only be serviced by workers in the U.S. Last year, Sallie Mae was forced to bring 2,000
jobs back to U.S. soil to win a direct loan servicing contract. Sallie Mae is now one of four private banks
servicing 4.4 million direct loans.
- Saves taxpayers $61 billion over the 10 years by switching to the
cheaper Direct Loan program, according to the Congressional Budget Office. In addition to investing in college
aid, these provisions will also reduce the deficit by at least $10 billion over 10 years.
Student Loan Reform: What's In It For You
Myths vs. Facts about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
Support for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act
White House Fact Sheets:
Bill Summary: Making College More Affordable
Building American Skills Through Community Colleges
Ensuring That Student Loans Are Affordable
Investing in Pell Grants to Make College Affordable