Cassidy Will Chair the Senate HELP Committee
By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), currently the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, will chair the committee in the upcoming 119th Congress with the Republican party now set to control all levers of power in Washington.
Cassidy, as the ranking member, has had multiple initiatives and introduced legislation aimed at lowering the cost of higher education and addressing student loan debt. This includes a Congressional Review Act (CRA) aimed at overturning the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) repayment plan, which was rejected by a vote of 49-50.
Cassidy, along with other Republican lawmakers, also introduced a CRA, which would have overturned the Biden administration’s initial student debt cancellation plan – that plan would have forgiven up to $20,000 of debt to eligible borrowers — and ended the pause on federal student loan payments. This CRA did pass the Senate but was ultimately vetoed by the Biden administration.
In June 2023, a group of Republican senators, led by Cassidy, introduced the Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act, a package of five bills the senators said would lower the rising costs of higher education and rising amount of student loan debt. Within the package of five bills was Cassidy’s College Transparency Act, which has bipartisan support and is supported by NASFAA.
“NASFAA is committed to ensuring that students and families have access to secure, accurate information to make informed decisions about postsecondary education,” said Nalia Medina, NASFAA assistant director of government relations. “We look forward to working with the Senate HELP Committee on this and other critical issues impacting college access and affordability.”
Additionally, Cassidy has vocally criticized the Department of Education (ED) for its rollout of the 2024-25 FAFSA, creating a website for students, financial aid administrators, and other stakeholders to report problems with the form. Cassidy has also called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to look into the challenges faced by students and schools with the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle.
“It is an honor to lead my fellow Republicans as chair of the HELP Committee,” Cassidy said in a statement. “I am excited to work closely with President Trump and my Republican colleagues to implement a Pro-America agenda and deliver real solutions for Louisiana and American families.”
Both House and Senate Republicans currently hold a slim majority for the 119th Congress. It is currently unclear who will chair the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, with Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), chair of the committee, stating previously that she would not seek another term as chair.
Stay tuned to Today’s News for more updates on the 119th Congress.
Publication Date: 11/21/2024
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