The Student Campaign in Events and Pictures
Applause erupted as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi authorized final passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 on September 19, 2007.
After Senators and members of Congress returned from August recess, students and student advocates were hopeful that both chambers had hammered out a new and final policy to help solve the problem of deep student loan debt. The process unfolded quickly – within two days, the House and Senate Education committees pulled together a joint press event with the Student PIRGs and coalition partners to announce final passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.
President Bush had threatened a veto of the bill during debate this summer. The House Education Chair, Representative George Miller (D-CA), announced at the event that the President withdrew his veto threat, assuring passage.
On Friday, September 7, 2007, both chambers voted on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. The Senate passed it 79 to 12, and the House passed it 292-97. Read the full text of the bill. A joint House and Senate signing ceremony occurred on September 19th.
On September 6, 2007, the US House and the US Senate Education committees held a joint press conference to announce their intent to pass student aid reform. Trea McPherson, rising senior at the University of Connecticut Storrs and ConnPIRG chair prepares to speak as he takes the podium from Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), chair of the Senate Education committee.
US Congressman George Miller applauds the announcement that President Bush will sign the higher education reforms into law.
US Senator Ted Kennedy keeps it real with student government president Andrew Friedson from the University of Maryland College Park, Trea McPherson from ConnPIRG at UConn Storrs, and Quin Gonell, student government leader at Salem State College in Massachusetts.
US Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) sides with Trea McPherson. UConn Storrs is in Courtney’s district.
US Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) supports the new reforms as US Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) looks on.
US Congressman Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) relates his own personal story of how education improved his quality of life.
US Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) emphasized the crucial role of higher education.
The House and Senate signing ceremony on September 19 was officiated by Congressman Joe Altmire from Pennsylvania, Carmen Berkeley of the United States Student Association, Quin Gonnell from MASSPIRG, Trea McPherson from ConnPIRG, Congressman Joe Courtney from Pennsylvania, Senator Ted Kennedy, chair of the Senate Education Committee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Congressman George Miller, House Education chair.
Carmen Berkeley, from the United States Student Association, Quin Gonnell, a MASSPIRG student leader from Salem State College in Massachusetts, and Trea McPherson, a ConnPIRG student leader from UConn Storrs share a light moment with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Education Chair George Miller, and Connecticut congressman Joe Courtney at the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007 signing ceremony.
Quin Gonnell, a student leader from MASSPIRG at Salem State College, and bill architect Congressman George Miller, House Education chair, posed for photos after the event.
Bill architect Senator Ted Kennedy, Senate Education chair, makes an impassioned point about educational access at the event.
Trea McPherson, a student leader from ConnPIRG at UConn Storrs, shares celebratory remarks with the House member from his district, Joe Courtney, and the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.