Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan College Transparency Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, (D-VA) joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in introducing the College Transparency Act (CTA), legislation to ensure students and families have better information as they consider higher education opportunities. The CTA would modernize the college reporting system for postsecondary data by providing accurate reporting on student outcomes such as enrollment, completion, and post-college earnings across colleges and majors.
“For many Virginians, higher education is one of the best investments for one’s future, and it’s vital that students and families have accurate information about student outcomes before choosing the right school and program for them,” said Kaine. “I’m proud to join colleagues from both sides of the aisle to introduce the College Transparency Act to ensure our college reporting system is up to date and able to provide Virginians with the most important information as they make this life-changing decision.”
The information provided by the CTA will give students a clear understanding of the return on investment in higher education and help them to make better decisions regarding the schools and programs of study that are best for them and their goals. It will also promote better outcomes by aiding institutions of learning and policymakers in their work to improve our country’s postsecondary education system and assist businesses and other employers in finding potential employees best suited to a particular field.
The legislation is led by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA). U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and Mike Kelly (R-PA-16) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The CTA is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Association for Career and Technical Education, Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP).
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the introduction of the College Transparency Act. This legislation will make postsecondary data available to students and employers, empowering students to make informed decisions about their education and career paths while equipping employers with the data necessary to connect with skilled talent. The College Transparency Act will strengthen our education system, enhance workforce competitiveness, and drive economic growth," said Rodney Davis, Head of Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Full text of the legislation is available here.
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