We Did It!

Senate Democrats opened the doors of opportunity for millions of hardworking students this week.

Yesterday, the Senate passed its version of the Higher Education Access Act, which calls for the greatest effort to increase opportunities for college since the GI Bill. It improves access to college for low-income and middle-income students, and it ensures that the billions of taxpayer dollars we're investing in student aid actually goes to students, and isn't siphoned off by banks and other lenders.

I'm proud of the Democratic majority's commitment to a college education for every American, regardless of income. The challenge now is to do everything in our power to see that the bill becomes law. President Bush has already threatened to veto the House version of the bill, because it supposedly "creates new mandatory federal programs and policies that are poorly designed and would have significant long-term costs to the taxpayer."

In fact, the bill makes the student loan system much fairer and more efficient -- and the American people are desperate for its impact. If we want to persuade President Bush to sign the bill, we need to make sure he hears stories like these -- posted on DailyKos last week:

One kid just graduated with about $10,000 in loans. The next is in her junior year, and will probably accumulate $20,000 in loans, because her college's financial aid package was worse...and she has more in Stafford rather than Perkins loans, which had better terms. Even with aid, the portion we have to pay is simply killing us. Forget saving for retirement. It's all gone and we're piling on debt. I really hope the bill passes...without being watered down. It's unconscionable that these loan companies and colleges are making money off the kids who can least afford it and most need the education to be able to make it into the fast-vanishing middle class.

By coral on Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 04:26:19 PM PDT

I am a 43-year old woman who is looking to rebuild her life after losing her career in the Dot-Com bust of 2000. I am finishing my baccalaureate in psychology... I now owe something like $45,000 in student loans, and I haven't even gone on to grad school yet. I have a very strong desire to get either my Masters in Social Work (my first choice) or a Masters in Psychology and provide mental health services to low-income, underserved persons. I don't want to have my own practice. If I wound up working for the County, or in a non-profit, that would make me the happiest woman in the world. I have less than half my life left: I want to make the rest of it count. However, I fear I will be burdened with student loans for the rest of my life.

By Snakes on a White House on Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 03:47:37 PM PDT

So, I just recently graduated and started my first salary job, unfortunately my student loans are going to be due soon...I worked all year round, I haven't had a car for over 5 years now (getting to work is a real treat) and still owe $38,000 in loans, plus credit card debt. My monthly loan payments are going to be more than my rent, thanks to having to take out private source loans to cover what federal loans and grants would not. I've been poor my whole life and I thought hard work and an education would be my ticket out. Too bad I'm going to be paying this off for the next 30 years. I was going to go to graduate school, but I can't even afford to physically move anywhere... I did everything everyone told me to do to succeed, and I never gave up but every time I think I'm almost there the finish line moves. Now I'm swimming in debt before I even start my life. This is a real problem, and a serious one. Something needs to drastically change. And please, think about those of us who have been unfortunate enough to go to college while Bush was in office. There's an entire generation of students just like me who desperately need help.

By Victory Coffee on Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 04:06:50 PM PDT

As we send this needed legislation to the White House for the President's signature, stories like these offer a powerful reminder to everyone just how important this reform is. If you have a story to share, or know someone who does, please use this special page to send them straight to my office.

When the original the Higher Education Act was being considered in the 1960s, my brother, President Kennedy, said this: "Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. Our requirements for world leadership, our hopes for economic growth, and the demands of citizenship itself in an era such as this all require the maximum development of every young American's capacity. The human mind is our fundamental resource."

Equal opportunity for a college education touches every aspect of American life. I thank my colleagues in Congress for making this legislation a priority -- now it's time to make it a law.