The Senate is considering passing a reconciliation bill on a rapid timeframe. The House bill, which was approved by a single vote, contains draconian cuts to federal student aid programs such as Pell Grants and student loans and makes harmful changes to Medicaid and other programs. The Senate version differs in significant ways from the House bill. 

In particular, the language released on June 10 by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) contains some improvements, such as dropping the House proposal to make changes to Pell that would disqualify about one out of every 10 recipients. The Senate Committee on Finance is still considering other parts of the House bill, such as an enormous expansion of the so-called endowment tax.

Among the other provisions we remain very concerned about are:

• A new accountability proposal that could have a disproportionate impact on graduate students and lead to reduced access to postsecondary education for students;
• New reductions in the ability of students to access federal loans; and
• Massive cuts to the Medicaid program.
   

Now is the time to tell members of the Senate to continue to improve the bill and reject the harmful House provisions that will make college less affordable for millions of low-income students, impose punitive new taxes and penalties on institutions, and undermine educational opportunity.