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If there were lessons to be taken from a hearing Tuesday before the House of Representatives higher education subcommittee, they were that 1) nothing brings the panel's usually fractious Democrats and Republicans together like a forum that allows them to express their support (rhetorically) for low-income students, and 2) don’t put too much stake in a hearing title.

Members on both sides of the aisle of the Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness spent a good portion of their five-minute response times praising the efforts of four witnesses who described ideas -- and practical solutions – meant to help make college affordable for students in financial need. There was no finger pointing or yelling; just softball questions aplenty.

One of the witnesses, Jamie Merisotis, president of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, said he was encouraged by the collegial nature of the discussion. “As a tone-setter, this is good,” he said. “We’re usually in such a partisan environment, but these issues we deal with should have bipartisan support.”

The session, entitled “Paying for College: Innovative Private-Sector Proposals to Complement Record Federal Investment in Student Aid,” went well beyond the scope of its billing. Merisotis argued in support of need-based financial aid, as well as Upward Bound, Talent Search and Gear Up -- programs intended to give students who wouldn't always think about attending college a jump start.

When Merisotis did mention the role of the private sector in funding scholarships and grants, he took pains to say that such external sources are needed but should not be a substitute for federal need-based aid. In his written testimonial, Merisotis advocated the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP), which encourages state governments to provide state tax dollars to help students attend college.

Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.) echoed that sentiment, saying that while private sector investment in student aid is important, federal aid is “the cornerstone of college access and affordability.” He also trumpeted the need for an increase in Pell Grant funding and a reduction in interest rates on college loans.

Allison Jones, an assistant vice chancellor in the Cal State system, summarized his college’s community outreach efforts and explained the intentions behind a “Steps to College” poster that outlines the different stages in applying to college -- including aid options. Rassan Salandy, director of university recruitment for the Posse Foundation, provided an overview of his organization, which identifies groups of underrepresented high school seniors and works to get them full-tuition scholarships from colleges.

The witness who stayed truest to the session's title was Tom Davis, a business owner who lives in Texas. His construction company is paying about $35,000 in tuition and fees this year so that seven of his employees’ children can attend college free of charge. Davis explained that his company keeps close tabs on the students -- most of whose parents are Hispanic -- to make sure they are fulfilling their end of the bargain.

“We’re glad to pay for this,” he said. “None of our employees have a desire to go to college at this point, but their kids do. If you do this for employees, they will never forget it."

Davis said more companies across the country would have incentive to follow his model if a bill authored by the subcommittee's chairman, Ric Keller (R-Fla.), passes. The legislation, called the Family Friendly Employers Act ( H.R. 1518 ), would provide a tax benefit to employers that help subsidize the education of their employees' children. As it stands, Davis said many corporations cannot justify to their boards of directors why this type of gift should be provided.

A bit of partisanship came through on this topic. Kildee said tax benefit proposals and employer benefits favor students from middle-income families, not low income students who otherwise would not attend college.