Penn State supports a bill that will require universities to explain significant tuition increases -- more than twice the rate of inflation -- over a three-year period to the federal government.

"We are not opposed to the bill, but we are hoping to get other opportunities to further improve the bill as it continues to move forward," Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said.

The bill, titled the College Access and Opportunity Act of 2006, which was passed through the U.S. House on Thursday, focuses on reauthorizing the higher education system at colleges and universities. Teacher training programs, graduate study, international and foreign language programs, and institutional programs were all addressed in this bill, according to a press release from Rep. John E. Peterson, R-Pleasantville, who is supporting it.

The bill will also strengthen the higher education system by expanding college accessibility for low- to middle-income students, simplifying the student loan application process and approving a $200 increase in the Pell Grant award, according to the press release.

Peterson pushed for the bill to be passed Thursday with the elimination of some of the originally proposed provisions, Kendig said in an e-mail message.

"The version of the bill passed by the House eliminated some of the originally proposed price-control provisions that would have forced universities to hold down tuition without regard to increased costs, diminished state funding and the quality of programs offered," Kendig said in the message.

These provisions would have created several obstacles and hindrances to the higher education system at all colleges and universities, Kendig added.

"Penn State is grateful to Congressman John Peterson for his support in removing these counterproductive elements of the bill, and the university does not oppose the bill in its approved form," Kendig said.

The bill will require universities to explain excessive tuition hikes, reasons for the increases and strategies that will be implemented in order to hold down tuition costs in the future, Chris Tucker, spokesman for Peterson, said.

The bill hopes to create savings that will aid in reducing the federal deficit while helping to expand college access to all students.

"Access to higher education, whether it's in a university setting or more technically focused, is absolutely critical to the continued success of our economy and our country," Peterson said in the press release. "That's why [Thursday's] bill is so important -- its passage will go a long way in ensuring that more deserving young Americans have the opportunity to advance in their studies, regardless of their financial situation."

The bill will move forward to the Senate where it will be further discussed.

House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, D-California, did not return phone call for comment by press time yesterday.

Kyle Metzgar, USG executive governmental affairs, said it is not accurate for the bill to tack increases in tuition to inflation rates because the main reason for these increases is usually due to healthcare, which expands beyond the inflation rates.

"However, I do believe that the general idea behind the bill is healthy," Metzgar said.

"There is nothing harmful in having a dialogue between the federal government and universities," he added.