Press Releases

WEYERS CAVE, VA – Today, Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA) hosted a higher education roundtable at the Blue Ridge Community College’s Weyers Cave Campus with Blue Ridge Community College President Dr. John Downey on ways to make higher education more affordable and accessible, which was attended by representatives from eight schools throughout the Sixth District.

“Virginia’s Sixth District is home to more institutions of higher education than nearly any other district in the country,” Cline said. “With more than 20 colleges and universities within our borders, students from across the United States flock to the Sixth District to pursue their education. The challenge that remains is the high cost of tuition and what can be done to make higher education more affordable. Today, I heard from academic leaders and one thing was clear: we can find solutions to make college more affordable without passing student loan debt onto American taxpayers.”

“College Presidents in the Shenandoah Valley are appreciative of the support of the federal government throughout the challenging times of the pandemic,” President of Blue Ridge Community College Dr. John Downey said. “Congressman Cline’s annual meeting with College Presidents provides the opportunity to exchange ideas about how both public and private higher education institutions can continue to work together in support of federal and state goals for workforce development and economic growth.” 

In the 116^th Congress, Congressman Cline served on the House Education and Labor Committee’s Subcommittee on Higher Education, and cosponsored the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019 (H.R. 4098), which revises requirements governing the financing and accreditation of postsecondary education. Congressman Cline also cosponsored the Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2019 (H.R. 1605), which directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds to pay educational expenses.

In the 117^th Congress, Congressman Cline recently cosponsored the Responsible Education Assistance through Loan (REAL) Reforms Act (H.R. 8655), which offers commonsense, fiscally responsible reforms that protects students, borrowers, and taxpayers. To read a one-pager on the bill, click here.

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

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