School is back in session -- and so is the United States Senate.
In July, I wrote to you about our impressive Senate victory for America's college students. Democrats passed the Higher Education Access Act, the largest student aid relief package since the GI Bill in World War II!
The House and Senate have now agreed on the final version of the bill, and the Senate is likely to approve it today, followed quickly by House approval. It's now called the Higher Education Access and Cost Reduction Act, and in a matter of days, it could be on the president's desk waiting for his signature.
Democrats are doing everything in their power to prevent the student loan industry from derailing this needed legislation. For years, Sallie Mae and other lenders have been siphoning off billions of dollars in federal subsidies intended for students, while charging students astronomical interest rates for the loans they need to pay for college. It's long past time to put a stop to that outrageous abuse.
Just this week, I released a new report on the urgent need for student loan reform. The report describes how lenders make improper payments to colleges in return for preferential treatment on student loans. The abuses include "day retreats," free Rose Bowl tickets, and even free manicures and pedicures for college officials. These benefits are used to entice those officials to favor particular lenders instead of providing neutral financial advice to students.
Student loans shouldn't be decided by box seats and beauty services. We owe it to students to provide them with every opportunity they need for success, and to make sure they're getting the best deal possible for their hard-earned education dollars.
I've received thousands of stories from people across the country who struggle with college debt -- including many from people here at the Huffington Post.
Phansen wrote:
I'll be starting grad school in a month, pursuing a PhD in English. While I'm hoping to leave with only about 25k in loan debt, I'm not heading towards a particularly lucrative career. By making education financing so difficult, we pressure students to enter professions based purely on financial reward. How will this impact our national culture down the road, when all we have is I.T. professionals and lawyers?
Ron704 wrote:
I have over $40,000 in student loan debt and went to a state university in my middle age in an attempt to better myself. Unfortunately, now I'm disabled and I'm 2-1/2 years into the social security process. I'm quite sure every nickel and dime bill collector that my loans got sold to will be in line to garnish the paltry sum I will eventually receive from SS, keeping me in abject poverty the rest of my life. Even at that, with interest accumulation, there's no possible way my loans could ever be paid in my lifetime.
Every year, 400,000 qualified students don't go to a four-year-college, because they can't afford it. Those who do attend are too often faced with crippling debt like Phansen and Ron704 face.
We're a better nation than that. Please contact your representatives in Washington to ensure that the Higher Education Access and Cost Reduction Act makes it through Congress -- and that President Bush signs it into law.
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Thank you for trying to help those that it's not too late for.
I'm a current undergrad student with two years to go and am already several thousand dollars in debt and I have not bee able to obtain any scholarshi
After reading for several months about the outrages practices of some of these financial aid offices across the country, it's difficult to not get enraged! Neverthele
Who helped w get his vaunted NCLB? You did and despite your career of writing good legislatio
Also, the massive cut in lender subsidies that is needed to fund this interest rate cut will drive all but the largest lenders out of business, which will limit competitio
While increasing funding for Pell Grants is a great thing, comparing this act to the GI Bill is ridiculous
Now I'll get back to work before I get fired and default on my student loans...
Will any of these schools have wind farms?
Will any of these schools have swimming lessons?
Now, do the same thing for Solar panels and wind generators
We need a Federal Mandate to have solar panels on every rooftop by the end of the decade. Time is short. Global warming is real. Prepare to move away from the beaches.
Regards,
G&M
Looking at earlier education, before the college/un
While schools are on the hot seat and teachers are bashed ruthlessly for student underachie
In a study by the University of California at Irvine (Women's Teacher's Study)it was found that women teachers in California have a 51% greater chance of getting cancer than any other women in the state.
Although the 'why' is not scientific
Some of the illness producing/
The high VOC/Formal
The use of pesticides instead of cleaning and repairs to control ants and cockroache
There is no "safe" exposure to pesticides according to our legal language, and yet many schools still use neurotoxic substances routinely to offset the pest population
Many classrooms have inadequate fresh air. In one such situation 4 classes of young children were housed in a 'pod' that was tested for CO2
levels because 'everyone was always getting sick and sleepy". It was found to have 2800ppm of CO2! Three times the maximum allowable.
How many other classrooms have the same problem? How can children learn under these conditions
Looking forward to great improvemen
Where you have been when neocon criminals shovel this true Congress?
You and your family have done more for the poor and working class in this country than bush has ever done for the rich and the oil companies. you are DEMOCRATIC ROYALTY!!!
term limits? hell no.
you are a lifer!
love ya!
EARTH TO CONGRESS!
END THE WAR IN IRAQ!
DE-FUND
INVESTIGAT
IMPEACH