Dear Chairman Cassidy and Ranking Member Sanders,
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”) strongly supports the College Transparency Act (CTA) and commends the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) in advancing legislation to provide students and families with more complete information as they pursue postsecondary education.
Historically, students have considered post-secondary education with the purpose of attaining a better job or more career opportunities. Yet, students and their families lack the robust data necessary to help them determine whether institutions of higher education truly deliver these outcomes, and whether the skills attained are aligned with employer needs. The CTA would change that. By providing accurate enrollment, completion, and postsecondary earnings by major, students would be able to find programs of study suited to their interests, while also meeting employer benchmarks. This would go a long way in addressing the work-readiness gap, in a market where high school graduates are viewed as less ready for work than previous generations.
Giving America’s students accurate information on post-completion outcomes, including earnings, cumulative student debt, and credential levels would enable the future workforce to make more informed choices about their education. In tandem, it would provide potential employers with the data necessary to connect with skilled talent. This legislation would streamline pathways to postgraduation employment for students and employers alike.
The Chamber respectfully urges the members of the HELP Committee to pass the College Transparency Act and advance a more transparent, outcomes-driven higher education system that better serves students, families, and employers.
Sincerely,
Neil L. Bradley
Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
CC: Members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
