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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 5, 2020 03:35 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Morgan Cephas |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Tax Credit for College Textbooks |
| As tuition and fees for college have increased in this country, many students struggle to afford the costs associated with getting a degree. While grants and loans can help some students pay, these do not cover everything students need to be successful in school. For example, many students are forced to pay out-of-pocket for the textbooks they need—for which the College Board recommends they set aside $1200 a year. For students already struggling to pay for the essentials, spending money on textbooks is a luxury: one study found that 65% of students decide against buying a textbook because it was too expensive. As traditional financial aid supports are not set up to help students with textbook costs, I am introducing legislation that would give students a tax credit for minor expenses they incur to support their educational experience, such as the purchase of textbooks. It is unreasonable to expect that students are able to achieve their full potential in school without the tools they are supposed to use every day in class. This legislation will make sure that our students are set up for success in college—not failure. With so much attention on the sticker-price of attending college in America, we cannot forget the smaller things that are an essential part of students’ education. Please join me in giving students the support they need by co-sponsoring this legislation. |