PRINTER'S NO. 793
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
127
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY ROEBUCK, SONNEY, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, MURT,
DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, KINSEY, CALTAGIRONE, HARKINS, ULLMAN,
PYLE, RYAN, MILLARD, READSHAW, KORTZ, LONGIETTI, FREEMAN,
HILL-EVANS, BURNS, CIRESI, PASHINSKI AND STURLA,
MARCH 8, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 8, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of March 25 through 29, 2019, as "Public
Higher Education Affordability Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Recently the Institute for Higher Education Policy
(IHEP) found that 70% of American colleges are unaffordable for
lower-income and middle-income students who are unwilling or
unable to take out student loans; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide there are approximately 1,500 colleges
and universities where the majority of students who borrowed
Federal loans are making interest-only payments on their loans
or no payments at all; and
WHEREAS, According to LendEDU, Pennsylvania ranks the
highest, at 51st, in average student debt by state with $36,193;
and
WHEREAS, One of the most important steps we can take is to
reduce or eliminate student debt; and
WHEREAS, Prospective students, families and taxpayers alike
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
are increasingly concerned about the rising cost of higher
education in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, According to the Lumina Foundation, in the past 10
years, college prices rose 45% while incomes have decreased by
7%; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth understands the importance of
saving for higher education and the difficulties of saving that
students and parents face; and
WHEREAS, Knowledge of the availability of student financial
aid to help finance a postsecondary education has been shown to
vary across demographic groupings; and
WHEREAS, The Tap 529 Program and the Keystone Scholars
Program can provide different methods of saving for higher
education; and
WHEREAS, Fluctuating appropriations and enrollment levels in
combination with increasing administrative costs have caused an
unprecedented fiscal pressure for colleges and universities; and
WHEREAS, Colleges and universities are significant economic
enterprises contributing to the cultural, educational and
financial success and stability of the region in which they are
located; and
WHEREAS, Higher education is a critical mechanism for
socioeconomic advancement and economic mobility in our society;
and
WHEREAS, All residents of this Commonwealth benefit from the
skills and education gained by students at our institutions of
higher education; and
WHEREAS, The future of this Commonwealth depends in part on
the ability of public and private institutions of higher
education to continue to fulfill their missions; therefore be it
20190HR0127PN0793 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
week of March 25 through 29, 2019, as "Public Higher Education
Affordability Week" in Pennsylvania, educating Commonwealth
residents pursuing higher education on applying for available
aid.
20190HR0127PN0793 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5