Etheridge statement on reconciliation bill signing


Washington, D.C. -— U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) released the following statement about yesterday’s signing of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.

“As the first member of my family to graduate from college, I know firsthand that higher education is the key to the American Dream,” Etheridge said. “The future will belong to the educated, and I voted for this new law because it will make a real difference for North Carolinians who are willing to work hard to achieve success.”

The restructuring of the way the government handles loans will benefit millions of students. The reforms improve Pell Grants by investing $36 billion to help students go to college and ensure that funding keeps up with inflation. The bill will also put college in reach for millions of Americans and create jobs that stay in the U.S., while saving taxpayers money. Student loans will be more affordable and manageable, cutting the middle man out of federally-supported student loans and passing the savings on to taxpayers. There are also provisions which would benefit North Carolina’s 58 community colleges by investing up to $2 billion to help them prepare students and workers for competitive jobs.

It supports job training and college access to make sure that North Carolinians get the training they need to succeed in our 21st Century economy.

The new law also puts into place the final pieces of the health insurance overhaul to provide middle class consumer protections from industry abuses. Etheridge voted for the reforms after hearing personal stories from North Carolinians about how the new laws will help them and their families in their daily lives.