Bill would help island students with tuition

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Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata has teamed up with Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (CNMI) for the reintroduction of their bipartisan Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa College Access Act.

The bill would provide much-needed tuition assistance to students in the islands.

The Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa College Access Act would authorize new tuition assistance grants to aid in covering the gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition costs specifically for Northern Marianas and American Samoa community college graduates desiring to go on and attend a four-year public university, or seek to complete a four-year degree program.

“Our accredited community college does a great job, and we have many good students,” said Congresswoman Amata. “After that start or completing their initial goal at ASCC, our students deserve the same access to four-year University degrees that students in all 50 States have.”

The congresswoman lamented, “Currently, our student do not share in those in-State tuition opportunities. I’m happy to once again work with Congressman Sablan on this legislation, and I appreciate his emphasis on education. This bill would help correct a financial disadvantage, and that would give our students improved opportunities to pursue higher education and career goals.”