APLU Statement on Introduction of Aim Higher Act

Washington, DC – Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) President Peter McPherson today released the following statement regarding the introduction of the Aim Higher Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Aim Higher Act would make important progress in supporting college access, affordability, and completion. The bill includes a number of provisions that APLU supports and has advocated for over the years. As examples, the bill would increase the Pell Grant award and ensure the program receives annual inflation adjustments, fix the flaws of the 90/10 rule, and expand the collection and reporting of higher education outcomes data to count all students.

“Additionally, we appreciate that the legislation recognizes the primary driver of increased tuition for the vast majority of students is state disinvestment in public higher education. We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers to improve upon the solutions to state disinvestment in the bill to better support students at both two and four-year public institutions.

“As the legislative process of reauthorizing the Higher Education Act proceeds, we will continue to engage both sides of the aisle because ultimately any final legislative solution will require bipartisan support.”