Last week the Higher Education Act passed through the House and Senate with flying colors, receiving votes of 380 to 49 and 83 to 8 respectively. The bill is both highly anticipated and ambitious. The original Higher Education Act, passed in 1965, was aimed at improving college access and affordability, and has traditionally been renewed every 5 years. This most current version, however, took longer than expected and has expanded considerably to include nearly 64 new programs, ranging from student loans to file sharing. While some students and higher education advocates have criticized the bill for including too many extraneous programs and regulations, most have praised it. Expanding Pell Grants, simplifying the financial aid process, cutting textbook costs, and continuing federal grant and loans programs all bode well for students in the upcoming school year. The Higher Education Act is also the first piece of legislation that specifically addresses student borrower protections.

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Read this NSNS post about the Higher Education Act