Newsletter: 07/25/2014

Statement

Dear Friends,

Education opens doors. A diploma or degree brings with it the promise of a better future, better wages, and a better quality of life. Without a quality education, the possibilities of life are truly limited, not limitless. And in the House of Representatives, we're taking action to ensure that every American has access to a quality education and an education that's affordable.

On Thursday, the House passed two bills that would make financing higher education easier and more understandable:

H.R. 4984, the Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act, which would provide enhanced counseling for all students receiving federal financial aid. This legislation would help promote financial literacy and put students on a path toward paying off their student loans. I am a cosponsor of this bill.
H.R. 3393, the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act, which would make permanent the American Opportunity Tax Credit. The credit allows eligible students to write off a portion of their tuition and related educational expenses.
By investing in education, we invest in our nation's future. We invest in growing our nation's economy, and we invest in generations yet to come.

I spoke on the House floor this week about the importance of investing in education and creating education policies that work for students and families.

Please click here to watch my speech.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

As you may remember, I held a roundtable in Kanawha County in May to discuss ways to prevent and respond to human trafficking. My roundtable came just days after the House had passed a series of bills to strengthen protections against human trafficking. I'm pleased to announce that the House has passed another series of bills this week to help victims of human trafficking and stop this terrible crime:

H.R. 5081, the Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act
H.R. 5076, the Enhancing Services for Runaway and Homeless Victims of Youth Trafficking Act
H.R. 4980, the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act
H.R. 5135, the Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act
H.R. 5116, the Human Trafficking Detection Act
H.R. 4449, the Human Trafficking Prevention Act
H.R. 2283, the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act
H.R. 5111, To Improve the Response to Victims of Child Sex Trafficking
All of us can give a voice to those whose voices have been silenced by the violence and indignity of human trafficking. I am proud to stand up for our most vulnerable and say no more to human trafficking.

Thank you for reading my weekly e-newsletter, and as always, you can join in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Sincerely

Shelley Moore Capito

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