Spotlight on College Costs In an effort to gather feedback about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3221), Rep. Welch convened a financial aid roundtable with Vermont students, educators and parents at Vermont Technical College in September 2009. Following the meeting, Welch successfully amended the legislation to ensure non-profit lenders like the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation can continue providing valuable services like college counseling, career placement and financial aid. The bill, which passed the House later that month, provides the single largest investment in college financial aid in history, expands early education opportunities and supports community colleges.

"For too many Vermonters, the tools to succeed in today’s economy are simply out of reach. In order to expand the opportunity created by a college education, Congress must continue to increase financial aid to students. At the same time, institutions of higher learning must do their part to bring costs under control and ensure that ever-increasing college costs are not outpacing the ability of middle class families to afford them. Only through the combination of controlling college costs and increasing aid will we succeed in making higher education more affordable to Vermonters."

P.S. Click here for financial aid information for Vermont students.

Rep. Welch's Recent Work on College Costs

Welch renews effort to block July 1st interest rate increase on Stafford Student Loans

March 28, 2013

With interest rates on some Stafford Student Loans set to double this summer, Rep. Peter Welch today met with Vermont college students in Rutland and pledged to block the increase.

On July 1, interest rates on Stafford Student Loans will rise from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.  Read More

WCAX: 'Student loan rates set to double'

March 28, 2013

"Affording college is definitely... things are tight. We make it happen. Those of us that have our priorities straight, we make it happen," said Greg Lambert, a student at Community College of Vermont.

Lambert, like many students at CCV, is juggling a very full plate. He is a single father, cancer survivor, studies environment sciences and will be receiving his associate degree in June. He says he plans to further his educati... Read More

Fox 44, ABC 22: 'Stafford Student Loan Interest Rates Set to Double July 1st'

March 28, 2013

It seems like the college degree is the new high school diploma... a requirement for a lot of jobs these days. But the price tag on higher education is mighty high. Vermont's Congressman is trying to ease the pain.

In just a few months, student loan rates are set to double.

Congressman Peter Welch was talking with students in Rutland today, about their struggles.

Read More

As Vermonters anticipate college acceptance letters, Welch announces bill to simplify financial aid application

February 20, 2013

With college acceptance letters beginning to arrive, Rep. Peter Welch today announced legislation to ease the burden of applying for federal financial aid for Vermont students and families.

“Students and families face enough barriers when trying to piece together the finances to pay for higher education. Struggling to fill out onerous and unnecessary financial aid paperwork shouldn’t be one of them,” Welch said. “Ther... Read More

Burlington Free Press: 'Welch pushes financial-aid streamlining'

February 20, 2013

The federal form that's the gateway to college financial aid poses 101 questions spread over eight pages, longer than the IRS's 1040. The complexity of that form, known as the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) has long been known to be a deterrent to many prospective students who are thinking about applying to college.

Legislation aimed at simplifying the FAFSA will be filed by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Welch a... Read More

• September 26, 2012 — vtdigger: 'Welch plan links curbing college tuition growth with regulatory relief'

• September 24, 2012 — Photo Album: 'Rep. Wech Announces Legislation to Curb College Tuition Costs'

• September 24, 2012 — Welch announces legislation to curb college tuition costs

• September 24, 2012 — Burlington Free Press: 'Welch calls for legislation to contain college costs'

• September 24, 2012 — New England Cable News: 'Vt. Rep. Welch targets tuition costs in new legislation'

• June 29, 2012 — Welch statement on successful effort to block doubling of Stafford Student Loan interest rate

• June 19, 2012 — New York Times: 'Debit Cards on Campus'

• June 12, 2012 — Welch demands end to large bank fees on student debit and prepaid cards

• June 11, 2012 — vt.Buzz: 'Clock is ticking as Congress wrestles over student loan rate deal'

• June 8, 2012 — VPR: ' Welch Pushing For Bipartisan Effort To Reduce Budget Deficit'

• June 1, 2012 — Rutland Herald: 'Thousands call in to Welch meeting on student loans'

• May 9, 2012 — Boston Globe: 'Vermont delegation laments loan bill defeat'

• May 9, 2012 — At pivotal moment, Welch brings Vermont student loan debt stories to Congress

• May 1, 2012 — Rutland Herald: 'Debt collector: Welch gathers students’ stories'

• April 30, 2012 — At UVM, Welch issues call for student debt stories to educate Congress

• April 30, 2012 — Burlington Free Press: 'Welch listens to University of Vermont students' debt stories'

• April 30, 2012 — vtdigger: 'Welch listens to students’ debt concerns'

• April 30, 2012 — Boston Globe: 'Vt. US Rep. Welch collects student debt stories'

• April 30, 2012 — Photo Album: 'Rep. Welch issues call for student debt stories to educate Congress'

• April 27, 2012 — New York Times: 'House Passes Student Loan Bill Despite Veto Threat'

• April 21, 2012 — Valley News: 'Students In Debt: Rep. Welch on Affordable Loans"

• April 17, 2012 — Associated Press: 'Welch trying to stop student loan interest hike'

• April 17, 2012 — Burlington Free Press: 'Rep. Welch, students oppose loan-rate increase'

• April 17, 2012 — Rutland Herald: 'Debt peonage'

• April 16, 2012 — Photo Album: 'Rep. Welch works to block doubling of student loan interest rates set for July 1st'

• April 16, 2012 — Welch works to block doubling of student loan interest rates set for July 1st

• April 16, 2012 — WCAX: 'Rep. Welch has plan for student loan interest'

• September 27, 2011 — Bennington Banner: 'CCV awarded $2.5M grant to train for jobs'

• September 26, 2011 — Community College of Vermont Wins $2.5 Million

• May 11, 2011 — The Burlington Free Press: 'Rep. Welch promotes health care provision'

• April 28, 2011 — Delegation Preserves a Role, Secures Funds for VSAC

• March 23, 2011 — Welch statement on announcement by UVM President Fogel

• February 18, 2010 — Times Argus: "Welch brings federal giftbasket to CCV"

• February 17, 2010 — Welch secures funding for Community College of Vermont job-training program

• September 17, 2009 — Video: Rep. Welch offers amendment to support VSAC

• September 17, 2009 — Welch supports, House passes bill to make college more affordable to middle class families

• September 2, 2009 — Welch tackles college affordability at financial aid roundtable

• April 6, 2009 — Welch seeks funding for 29 Vermont projects

• September 8, 2008 — Welch opening statement from college endowment roundtable with Sen. Grassley

• September 4, 2008 — Grassley, Welch release participant list for Monday’s college endowment roundtable

• September 4, 2008 — College Endowment Roundtable Information

• August 26, 2008 — Grassley, Welch announce college endowment roundtable

• July 31, 2008 — Welch provision on college affordability bill clears House

• March 27, 2008 — Leahy, Welch announce CLEAN Grant program for Vt. colleges

• March 3, 2008 — Welch discusses state’s nursing shortage, announces $341,000 for Norwich program

• February 7, 2008 — Welch fights to improve college affordability with amendment to House bill

• January 28, 2008 — Welch responds to President Bush’s “State of the Union” address

• September 27, 2007 — Landmark college affordability bill with $61 million for Vermonters becomes law

• September 7, 2007 — Congress passes landmark college affordability bill with $61 million for Vermonters

• August 27, 2007 — Welch backs greatest commitment to college affordability since 1944 GI Bill

• July 24, 2007 — Helping a new generation of Vermonters afford a college education

• July 20, 2007 — Welch secures funding to expand Norwich nursing program by fifty-percent

• July 11, 2007 — Welch backs passage of largest student aid increase since 1944 GI Bill, no new cost to taxpayers

• May 10, 2001 — Making College Affordable