This week, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) helped pass a number of bipartisan bills that will simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), require colleges to be more transparent about the full cost of attending their institution, and expand access to financial counseling for students and families. All three of these proposals match goals laid out in Rep. Peters’ Education Plan to Expand Opportunity and Drive Economic Growth, which he released during a speech to UCSD students in February.

“Our students need access to affordable higher education opportunities that will give them the skills to compete for the jobs of the future,” Rep. Peters said. “These bipartisan measures will simplify the process of applying for federal aid and give students and their families the resources to better understand college costs. But there is more work to be done to reduce college costs and the burden of student loan debt, and I will keep working to make a quality college education affordable for the middle class again.”

Rep. Peters also supported passage of the Accessing Higher Education Opportunities Act, which expands grant opportunities for Hispanic-serving institutions like San Diego State University and the San Diego Community College District. Specifically it will increase education opportunities for Hispanic-Americans by allowing grants to be used to conduct counseling and expand the enrollment of high school students in dual or concurrent enrollment programs to get college credit.

Rep. Peters continued, “This will give San Diego State and our community colleges greater flexibility in using federal resources to serve our Latino community. Opportunities like getting college credit as a high schooler can reduce the cost of a college education and better prepare students for the workforce.”