The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held an executive session last week that revealed several hints about the committee’s higher education priorities in the coming Congress.
 
Although Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) took the gavel as chair for the first time, he primarily focused on health care, K-12 education, and labor issues.
 
In contrast, Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), the new ranking member of the committee, identified several higher education issues as among his priorities, including the financing of student loans. Sen. Cassidy was particularly critical of the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment plans, claiming that such programs only incentivize higher education institutions to increase the already-high cost of a college education.