Following is a statement by Association of American Universities President Mary Sue Coleman on the Senate passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:
We are deeply disappointed the Senate has passed a tax reform measure that will make higher education less accessible and less affordable for America’s students. This legislation will hurt hardworking students and their families, weaken our scientific enterprise, and drastically increase our national debt.
Both measures, the House and Senate versions, will undermine America’s global lead in higher education and damage our nation’s ability to train the next generation of scientists, engineers, doctors, artists, and entrepreneurs. As we face growing international economic and research competition, Congress should work to expand – not diminish – access to higher education, and empower research universities and their students to foster real and sustainable economic growth through innovation.
As the House and Senate move forward to a conference on the legislation, we urge members to consider America’s students and remove provisions that harm them, undermine innovation, and our nation’s economic competitiveness.
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Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities comprises 62 distinguished institutions that continually advance society through education, research, and discovery.
Our universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for academic research, are improving human life and wellbeing through research, and are educating tomorrow’s visionary leaders and global citizens.
AAU members collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of research universities to society.