PRINTER'S NO. 490
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
54
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, DINNIMAN, FARNESE, BOSCOLA, BLAKE,
SANTARSIERO, FONTANA, BREWSTER, SABATINA, SCHWANK, BAKER,
STREET, HAYWOOD, K. WARD, COSTA AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 25, 2019
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 25, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of March 25 through 29, 2019, as "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, There are almost 1,500 colleges and universities
nationwide where the majority of students who borrowed using
Federal loans are making interest-only payments on their loans
or no payments at all; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania ranks the highest in average student
debt by state with $36,193, according to LendEDU; 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
are increasingly concerned about the rising cost of higher
education in this Commonwealth; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
WHEREAS, In the past 10 years, college prices rose 45%, while
incomes have decreased by 7%, according to the Lumina
Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's public officials understand 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 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
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 regions 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
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of March 25
through 29, 2019, as "Higher Education Affordability Week" in
Pennsylvania to further educate Commonwealth residents on
20190SR0054PN0490 - 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
financing the costs of postsecondary education.
20190SR0054PN0490 - 3 -
1