We sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives asking them to oppose the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (H.R. 1), citing drastic cuts to student aid programs that will cause significant damage to the U.S. economy in both the short and long term.

Last year, with the assistance of a Pell Grant, a Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant and other forms of state- and campus-based aid, more than 1 million American students earned their credentials and are now armed with the skills to compete and succeed in the current economy. Slashing financial aid that more than 9 million families are depending on as they budget for the fall semester, mere months from the July 1 deadline for making these awards, will force millions of students to drop out of school.

“By denying students the opportunity and the means to complete their educations, the proposed cuts will result in a dramatic and immediate impact on the American economy and competitiveness, ultimately impairing the ability of millions of college students to achieve the American dream,” said SAA Co-Chairman and National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President David L. Warren.

“Labor economists have found that the United States economy will require 22 million new workers with college degrees by 2018. However, they also estimate that the country will fall short of that number by at least 3 million,” said SAA Co-Chairman and American Council on Education President Molly Corbett Broad. “Without the trained workers to fill these jobs, America will risk falling behind countries like China and India that have invested heavily in educating their workforces. The proposed cuts will exacerbate these problems by failing to prepare students to enter and succeed in college.”

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