December 1, 2017
Today, the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Chairman of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee introduced the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act. COE staff, and our advisors, are currently unpacking the details of the legislation and will keep you informed regarding that analysis and what actions the TRIO community might need to take in working with Congress in the weeks and months ahead.
The TRIO chapter of the PROSPER Act reflects an openness to recommendations from our community by Dr. Foxx, Congressman Guthrie and the Committee as well as a commitment to promote greater college access and successful completion. There are many aspects of the PROSPER Act that COE applauds, including:
Despite these welcome provisions, the PROSPER Act also includes a number of concerning proposals that COE and the TRIO community must address. These include:
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce is expected to "mark up" this legislation very soon. The Council for Opportunity in Education's government relations team is actively working with other stakeholders to develop a robust strategy and assure that the views of the TRIO community will be represented throughout the reauthorization process.