(Washington, D.C.) Today, President Bush signed into law the Higher Education Opportunity Act, which is the first comprehensive renewal of federal higher education programs in a decade. The Act contains several of McMorris Rodgers’ priorities which she has been fighting for since elected to Congress.

Among other things, the bill:

Adopts McMorris Rodgers’ provisions to increase our nation’s competitiveness by including scholarships for students studying math, science, engineering and computer science as well as encouraging innovative programs for teaching foreign language;

Contains McMorris Rodgers’ language that allows adjunct content specialists in schools, letting school districts recruit mid-career professionals with experience in math, science and critical foreign languages so those qualified professionals can take time out of their career, enter the classroom and share their real world experience;

Helps make college more affordable for Eastern Washington students by funding for the Perkins Loan program, which provides approximately $8.7 million for Eastern Washington colleges and universities each year;

Cracks down on fraudulent diploma mills by increasing transparency to give consumers more information allow the Secretary of Education to continue her efforts to shut down fraudulent diploma mills.

McMorris Rodgers serves on the Education and Labor Committee and was a member of the conference committee which reconciled the House and Senate versions of the higher education bill.

Contact:
Destry Henderson
202-225-2006
202-279-0418