High Country Times

In a recent op-ed for the Washington Times, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s approach to student loan forgiveness. In her piece entitled "Higher ed is broken, and Republicans have a plan to fix it," Foxx outlined H.R. 6951, the College Cost Reduction Act (CCRA), which aims to lower college costs for students and families.

Foxx stated, "Democrats and Republicans rarely see eye-to-eye these days, but I think we can all agree that earning a postsecondary degree or certification is just too expensive." She noted that younger generations are increasingly skeptical of the current postsecondary model, with two-thirds of high school students indicating they believe they are better off without a degree.

The CCRA proposes measures to enhance accountability, transparency, and affordability in higher education. According to Foxx, "The CCRA treats the disease, not just the symptoms." The bill would implement a quality assurance model requiring colleges to be financially responsible if they overcharge for degrees that do not lead to adequate financial returns for students.

Contrastingly, Foxx criticized the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to shift student loan burdens onto taxpayers. She argued that their plan unfairly places nearly $138 billion in loans on workers who have either paid off their debts or opted not to attend college. "The CCRA curbs this unconstitutional power grab and takes action to rein in the Biden-Harris Department of Education," she wrote.

Foxx emphasized that maintaining the status quo in college financing is unsustainable for students, families, and taxpayers. She concluded by asserting her duty as an elected official to foster freedom, competition, and pathways to success through effective postsecondary education reforms embodied by the CCRA.