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Walberg Selected to Lead House Education and the Workforce Committee

By Maria Carrasco, NASFAA Staff Reporter

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) is set to chair the House Education and the Workforce Committee for the upcoming 119th Congress, succeeding current chair Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.).

Walberg has served 16 years on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. When it comes to higher education legislation, Walberg introduced the FAFSA Act in 2019, which was a bill that would simplify the FAFSA filing process for students and families. He was also a cosponsor of the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act in 2023, a bill that would allow Pell Grants to be used to support students enrolled in “high-quality” short-term education programs.

“Representative Tim Walberg has been a long-standing member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce,” said Nalia Medina, NASFAA’s assistant director of government relations. “We look forward to collaborating with him as the incoming chair, as well as the new committee members, on robust financial aid policy and effective ways to support our nation’s students during the 119th Congress.” 

Additionally, according to his website, Walberg believes Congress must do more to “incentivize and support those who plan ahead and save for education.” He also has said that the federal student aid system must be simplified. Walberg goes on to say that reforms in higher education must “prioritize reducing costs and emphasize the importance of completion, while simplifying and improving student aid programs, and increasing transparency in prices and program outcomes."

Walberg, following his selection to lead the incoming committee, said in a statement on Thursday that the committee has significant work ahead.

“Having served under three Republican chairs of this committee, I understand both the privilege and responsibility now entrusted to me,” Walberg said in a statement. “We have a unique opportunity to make substantive reforms to empower parents, incentivize workforce training, improve government efficiency, and unburden American innovators and job creators.”

Earlier this year, Foxx shared she would not seek another term as House Education and the Workforce Committee chair. Previously she chaired the committee between 2017 and 2019. On Thursday, Foxx congratulated Walberg for securing his seat. 

“He’s been a collaborative, effective, and hardworking member of the Committee for 16 years, and I am excited to see him step into this leadership role,” Foxx said in a statement. “Tim has been a lifelong fighter for education and literacy and truly believes in helping every American reach their God-given potential.”

Both chambers of the 119th Congress have Republican majorities, and Sen. Bill Cassidy will chair the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

 

Publication Date: 12/16/2024


Peter G | 12/16/2024 1:26:32 PM

"Walberg introduced the FAFSA Act in 2019"

Is that an argument for or against his candidacy?

David S | 12/16/2024 11:57:39 AM

The purpose of need-based financial aid is to assist those whose ability to pay with their own resources is limited or non-existent. When a member of Congress says that one of their pressing priorities must be to “incentivize and support those who plan ahead and save for education," I'm not sure they have much of a commitment to assist those with financial need.

An example of incentivizing saving for college, of course, would be the tax exemption for interest on 529 plans. All well and good - my wife and I used 529's towards our daughter's education - but she would have gone to college whether we had a tax exemption on whatever interest the accounts accumulated over the years or not. So there's a real question as to whether or not this type of benefit does anything to increase access...it's arguably just a break for mostly upper-middle class families.

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