College students are now facing the deepest cut to federal student aid in the program's 40-year history. On Jul 22, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved, along strict party lines, a bill that puts the squeeze on loans, grants, and other forms of assistance--to the tune of $11 billion. The real problem, say Democrats and student advocates, is that the $11 billion savings is going toward reducing the $325 billion-plus government shortfall, not toward helping students.

Bills