U.S. House passes bill that addresses tuition, textbook costs

Congress has set out to aid college students by lowering costs across the board.

The U.S…. Congress has set out to aid college students by lowering costs across the board.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act on Thursday. It is part of Congress’s year-long attempt to level the playing field when it comes to higher education.

The bill passed 345 to 58 and is now on its way to the Senate. Along with simplifying the student-loan process, increasing the maximum Pell Grant and providing $20 billion more for federal student loans, a portion of the bill is devoted to curbing textbook prices.

Both Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chair of the Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, worked to get the bill organized and passed through the House.

Brad Bauman, a spokesman for Ryan, said that the bill’s goal is to act as a “Bill of Rights” for college students by strengthening the nation’s higher-education programs to ensure that they operate in the best interests of the students and their families.

“Congressman Ryan believes that we need to ensure that every American who wants to continue their education after graduating high school will be able to afford it,” Bauman said.

Ryan sponsored an amendment to the bill that authorizes textbook-rental programs at 10 schools across the country.

“There are currently a few such programs around the nation, and costs of textbooks can typically be decreased by two-thirds in some cases,” Bauman said.

The bill would dramatically simplify the textbook-purchasing process for college students. It would set up a website listing textbook prices from a variety of booksellers so that students could compare prices more easily.

The act also aims to break up book packages commonly sold to students. By individually packaging products, students will be able to purchase a particular CD, workbook or textbook rather than being forced to purchase the entire set.

“Rep. Ryan believes that college students and their families have been saddled with skyrocketing costs in higher education and student loan debt as a result,” Bauman said.

Pitt sophomore Naomi Rosen thinks that the act is a great idea but that the textbook reforms are not the answer to all the problems associated with college costs.

“It’s the wrong thing to focus on,” she said. “It’s not going to solve the problem, but it will help alleviate costs for me.”