Rep. Cline Hosts Annual Higher Education Roundtable in Winchester

Today, Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) hosted his annual higher education roundtable at Shenandoah University with higher education leaders from across Virginia's Sixth District. The event was an opportunity for Rep. Cline to hear directly from participants and discuss technology integration, risk management, and more.

Congressman Cline was joined by Shenandoah University President Dr. Tracy Fitzsimmons, Radford University President Dr. Bret Danilowicz, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Assistant Vice President for Government Relations Stephanie Giesecke, Bridgewater College President Dr. David Bushman, Mary Baldwin University President Dr. Todd Telemeco, Eastern Mennonite University Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon Dycus, Laurel Ridge Community College President Dr. Kimberly Blosser, Washington and Lee University President Dr. William Dudley, Virginia Tech President Dr. Tim Sands, and Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia President The Honorable Chris Peace.

"Educators hold one of the most important roles in our nation. Today, institutions of higher education and their students face a range of challenges, from rising research costs and rapid technological change to internal pressures and student debt. Forums like these help me do my job more effectively by ensuring that federal policies create real opportunities for both students and faculty to succeed," said Rep. Cline. "It was great to join so many higher education leaders in Shenandoah to hear their ideas and share the steps I'm taking to strengthen higher education across Virginia."

In the 119^th Congress, Congressman Cline cosponsored the SCORE Act (H.R. 4312), which is designed to protect the rights of college athletes by providing a federal framework for NIL agreements. He also cosponsored the Dismantle DEI Act of 2025 (H.R. 925), which aims to prohibit certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in the federal government and federal funded entities. Finally, he cosponsored the Protecting Life on College Campus Act of 2025 (H.R. 632), which prohibits the award of federal funds to an institution of higher education that hosts or is affiliated with a school-based service site that provides abortion drugs or abortions to its students or employees.

In the 118^th Congress, Congressman Cline cosponsored the Know Before You Owe Federal Student Loan Act of 2023 (H.R. 1216), which would strengthen loan counseling requirements to ensure colleges are fully preparing their students to take out loans in a responsible manner. He also cosponsored the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act (H.R. 1250), which would ensure that students of owners of family farms or small businesses would not be unfairly penalized in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process.

In the 117^th Congress, Congressman Cline cosponsored the Responsible Education Assistance through Loan (REAL) Reforms Act (H.R. 8655), which offers commonsense, fiscally responsible reforms that protects students, borrowers, and taxpayers. He also cosponsored the Simplified Joint Consolidation Separation Act (H.R. 8909), which would establish a more efficient process for separating joint consolidation loans to ensure timely relief for borrowers and ensure the Education Secretary's authority is narrowly tailored to help those in need.

In the 116^th Congress, Congressman Cline served on the House Education and Labor Committee's Subcommittee on Higher Education, and cosponsored the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act of 2019 (H.R. 4098), which revises requirements governing the financing and accreditation of postsecondary education. Congressman Cline also cosponsored the Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2019 (H.R. 1605), which directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds to pay educational expenses.

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.