Servicemember Safety and Security Act of 2021

Mr. President, today, most jobs require some kind of postsecondary credential, whether a certificate, an associate's or bachelor's degree, an advanced or professional degree, or an apprenticeship. Moreover, the workplace is changing with automation, artificial intelligence, and the so-called gig economy transforming the nature of work. These trends have only accelerated in the wake of the pandemic and its economic fallout. That is why I am proud to be introducing the bipartisan Partnerships for Affordability and Student Success (PASS) Act with my colleague, Senator Collins.

The pandemic has upended educational opportunities for this generation of students. Unlike previous economic downturns when college enrollment climbed, the National Student Clearinghouse is reporting the largest decline in college enrollment in over a decade, with low-income and community college students experiencing the sharpest declines. For too many Americans, postsecondary education seems increasingly risky or out of reach.

The Federal government cannot solve the crisis on its own. States are critical partners in making college accessible, affordable, equitable, and accountable. However, State funding for higher education is lower today than it was before the onset of the Great Recession. According to the latest State Higher Education Finance report published by the State Higher Education Executive Officers, public colleges and universities have become more reliant on tuition dollars for their operations. Today, in half of the States, tuition accounts for more than half of all higher education revenue. Moreover, the only Federal-State partnership program for need-based financial aid--the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) program--has not received appropriations since Fiscal Year 2010

It is time to renew the Federal-State partnership for higher education, first enacted in 1972 on a bipartisan basis. The PASS Act will revitalize the Federal-State partnership through a formula grant to States with a focus on need-based aid, grants to institutions to improve student outcomes and reduce college costs, and public accountability.

In exchange for this new Federal investment, States must make a commitment to maintain their investment in higher education and have a comprehensive plan for higher education with measurable goals for access, affordability, and student outcomes. At least half of the funding must be dedicated to need-based student financial aid. States also have the option of awarding grants to colleges and universities or partnerships between institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations to improve student outcomes, including enrollment, completion, and employment, and to develop innovative methods for reducing college costs. I am pleased to have the support of the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Community College Trustees, and the Bipartisan Policy Center.

This generation is facing a crisis in college affordability and student loan debt. With the PASS Act, we seek to provide the resources and incentives for States to take more responsibility to address college affordability and student loan debt and improve student outcomes. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and look forward to working with them to include these and other key reforms in the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to print my bill for introduction in the Congressional Record. The bill's purpose is to improve the safety and security of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.