 Washington, D.C. – Today, Wednesday, June 10th, 2020, the Senate passed the Concerns Over Nations Funding University Campus Institutes in the United States (CONFUCIUS) Act by unanimous consent. The legislation address concerns about Confucius Institutes suppressing free speech on American college campuses. It is sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).
“The Chinese Communist Party has used deceptive tactics to infiltrate our U.S. university campuses and K-12 classrooms,” said Senator Blackburn. “Those studying Chinese culture and language at Confucius Institutes should be alarmed to learn that these facilities are a part of the Communist Party propaganda.”
 Senator Marsha Blackburn. «Read the rest of this article»
December 7, 2019 | 
Washington, D.C. – Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on Thursday, December 5th said “the Senate has taken a big first step in simplifying the FAFSA for 20 million families, including 8 million minority students,” after the Senate passed bipartisan legislation that makes permanent $255 million in annual funding for HBCUs, cuts up to 22 questions from the federal student aid application form (FAFSA), and eliminates bureaucratic verification nightmare for most students.
The bipartisan amendment to the House-passed FUTURE Act is sponsored by Alexander, Senate education committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.).
 U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander «Read the rest of this article»
November 23, 2019 |
Washington, D.C. – Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said “now is the time to pass permanent funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions.”
Alexander made his remarks on the Senate floor after Senate Democrats blocked Alexander’s bipartisan package of higher education proposals that includes $255 million in permanent annual funding for HBCUs and simplifying the FAFSA federal aid application that 8 million minority students fill out each year.
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander «Read the rest of this article»
November 5, 2019 |
Washington, D.C. – Senate Democrats today blocked legislation offered by Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) that would permanently fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions.
“The right way to help Historically Black Colleges and Universities is to pass permanent funding for these institutions as part of a package of bills that I’ve introduced, which includes simplifying the FAFSA, a bill that Senator Doug Jones and I have introduced which will help 20 million families including almost every student at HBCUs. The package also includes Pell grants for prisoners and short-term Pell grants,” Alexander said on the Senate floor after Democrats offered to pass House-passed legislation that would only fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions for two years.
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander «Read the rest of this article»
October 29, 2019 |
 Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald J. Trump joined the 2019 Second Step Presidential Justice Forum in South Carolina last Friday, where he accepted a prestigious honor for his part in advocating for and signing the groundbreaking First Step Act.
“After years of waiting, we assembled a historic coalition . . . After all of the work and effort, we passed the bill and I proudly signed it into law — the most significant criminal justice reform in many generations.”
 U.S. President Donald J. Trump «Read the rest of this article»
January 24, 2016 |
 Washington, D.C. – Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, praised a group of Senators today for introducing a package of bills that will help make college more affordable and assist those struggling to pay off their education debt.
The bills aim to ensure Pell grants cover more of the cost of higher education, enable Americans to refinance their loans at lower rates, and create a path for more students to afford community college without going into debt.
 Consumers Union Calls On Congress to Take Action to Address America’s College Affordability and Education Debt Crisis «Read the rest of this article»
April 13, 2015 |
Written by Curtis Johnson
Tennessee State Representative for 68th District
Speaker Pro Tempore
 Nashville, TN – Republicans in the House have spent a great deal of time this legislative session focusing on bills to assist veterans and currently serving military personnel in Tennessee. Building on legislation passed over the last several General Assemblies, the House hopes to continue finding ways to make life easier for military members and their families in the state.
One bill from this year, House Bill 8, will ensure high school students that train between their junior and senior year in the National Guard or go to advanced training after their senior year will still remain eligible for the state’s Tennessee Promise program.
 Tennessee State Representative Curtis Johnson «Read the rest of this article»
 Clarksville, TN – APSU Vice President of the National Alumni Association, Makeba Webb shared the ins and outs of pursuing higher learning opportunities and relationship that education has to career development with students enrolled in the LEAP Youth Career Development Program.
Students listened intently as Makeba advised them of the differences between financial aid, Pell Grants, scholarships and student loans and the impact selecting a school in state or out of state would have on funding sources.
 APSU’s Makeba Webb speaks with LEAP Youth Career Development Program students. «Read the rest of this article»
July 1, 2009 |
New Financial Aid Benefits Allow Borrowers to Pay Back Loans Based on Their Income
 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Starting today, federal student loans will become more affordable to repay as a new Income-Based Repayment (IBR) program takes effect. IBR will allow borrowers to cap their monthly loan payments based on how much income they earn. This program, in conjunction with a lower interest rate on subsidized – or need-based – student loans and an increase in the Pell Grant scholarship, will help make college more affordable and help alleviate devastating student loan burdens for millions of students, recent graduates and other borrowers.
“This help couldn’t be coming at a better time for borrowers in this tough economy, or for current and future students facing an escalating college affordability crisis,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. “These benefits will make a serious difference for students and families working very hard to pay for college, and will provide millions of borrowers more flexibility in choosing a career they truly desire rather than one made necessary due to crippling student debt.”
“Under this new program, students no longer have to choose between serving their nation and communities and tackling a mountain of college debt,” explained U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA). “Our nation is better and stronger when the best and brightest young Americans choose careers in public service.” «Read the rest of this article»
April 29, 2009 |
 (Nashville, TN) – Adam Haynes, President of the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats issued the following statement in support of President Obama’s plan presented today to make college more affordable and accessible to college students in this country:
Students in Tennessee -like young people all across America-are struggling to cope with the skyrocketing cost of higher education. In recent decades tuition has grown ten times faster than a typical family’s income – putting an undue strain on families and making the cost of higher education too expensive for far too many. «Read the rest of this article»
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