Yellowhammer Times

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has joined Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in reintroducing the College Transparency Act (CTA), a legislative effort aimed at providing students and families with more detailed information as they consider higher education loans. Tuberville, who previously supported the bill during the 118th Congress, is currently Chairman of the HELP Subcommittee on Education and the American Family.

“After spending 40 years in education, I know first-hand how hard it can be to navigate the ins and outs of a college education,” said Sen. Tuberville.“We want to empower our students to make the decision that’s best for them, and we want to ensure they’re getting the best bang for their buck before shelling out thousands of dollars in tuition and housing costs. As Chairman of the HELP Subcommittee on Education and the American Family, I’ll keep fighting to put our students and parents first.”

Senator Cassidy emphasized improvements made by prior reforms: “The One Big Beautiful Bill made historic reforms to our broken higher education system, lowering college costs and increasing Americans’ access to quality education options,” said Sen. Cassidy. “The College Transparency Act builds on that success by empowering students and families with information to make the best college decision so they can succeed.”

The legislation is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of senators including Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). In addition, Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA-16) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) have introduced companion legislation in the House.

The CTA seeks to modernize postsecondary data reporting by offering accurate information about student outcomes such as enrollment rates, completion statistics, and post-graduation earnings across different colleges and majors while protecting student privacy. The goal is to help prospective students better understand their potential return on investment from higher education choices.

According to supporters, this improved transparency will not only benefit individuals making educational decisions but also assist institutions, policymakers, businesses, and employers in identifying programs or candidates that fit specific needs.

The bill has received backing from numerous organizations representing higher education institutions, advocacy groups focused on student achievement, business associations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, workforce development coalitions, civil rights organizations like the Japanese American Citizens League, as well as research centers dedicated to postsecondary policy.

Senator Tuberville serves Alabama in the U.S. Senate where he sits on committees including Armed Services; Agriculture; Veterans’ Affairs; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; and Aging.