IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 214 

Supporting efforts to ensure that students have access to debt-free higher 

education. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 21, 2015 

Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Mr. ELLISON, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. 

JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. POCAN, Ms. LEE, Mr. ISRAEL, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. CONYERS, Mrs. WATSON

COLEMAN, Mr. HONDA, Mr. GRAYSON, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. 

VAN HOLLEN, Ms. EDWARDS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. CLARKE of New 

York, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. TED LIEU of California, Mr. GUTIE ́RREZ, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. 

MCDERMOTT, Ms. NORTON, Mr. RANGEL, Ms. HAHN, Ms. MAXINE

WATERS of California, Mr. POLIS, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. WELCH, Mr. CLAY, 

and Mr. SWALWELL of California) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting efforts to ensure that students have access to 

debt-free higher education. 

Whereas the economic competitiveness of the United States 

in the global economy requires a well-educated workforce; 

Whereas current and future young people in the United 

States should have the same opportunity offered to those 

who went to college in previous generations, including the 

ability to attend State colleges and universities without 

taking on burdensome debt; 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 214 IH 

Whereas, in 2015, higher education is more important than 

ever because it is an essential step to entering and remaining in the middle class; 

Whereas, because of the importance of higher education, the 

United States should expand the opportunity to pursue 

and attain higher education to more people than had that 

opportunity in the past; 

Whereas public investment in higher education pays off, as 

evidenced by the fact that workers with college degrees 

earn more money, pay more taxes, and rely less on government services; and 

Whereas student loan debt saddles the very students who 

most depend on a college degree to level the economic 

playing field with a burden that— 

(1) constrains the career choices and hurts the credit rating of the students; 

(2) prevents people from fully participating in the 

economy by purchasing goods and services; and 

(3) threatens essential milestones of the American 

dream, including the purchase of a home or car, starting 

a family, and saving for retirement: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 

2 efforts— 

3 (1) to ensure that through a combination of ef4 forts all students have access to debt-free higher 

5 education, defined to mean having no debt upon 

6 graduation from all public institutions of higher edu7 cation; 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 214 IH 

1 (2) to provide support to States so States can 

2 make increased investments in higher education that 

3 will result in lower tuition and costs for students; 

4 (3) to increase financial aid to students to help 

5 them afford the total cost of college attendance with6 out taking on debt; 

7 (4) to encourage innovation by States and insti8 tutions of higher education to cut costs for students 

9 and make college more affordable by increasing effi10 ciency and enabling speedy and less-costly degree 

11 completion; and 

12 (5) to reduce the burden of existing student 

13 loan debt. 

Æ 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with BILLS