Current and former students discussed burdens of student debt with Patty Judge
DES MOINES, Iowa – Patty Judge hosted a roundtable discussion yesterday with current and former students and educators to discuss how overly burdensome student loan debt affects their lives and her plans to tackle student loan debt in the United States Senate.
“Providing widespread access to a quality education is vital for our country’s economic growth and expansion of economic opportunity, but too many students are priced out of a college education,” said Patty Judge after hosting the roundtable. “Elected officials need to take more time to listen to those most affected by crushing student loan debt. It's clear that current students, recent graduates, and their families want solutions to this crisis, but Chuck Grassley would put access to important college affordability programs like Pell Grants at risk. In the U.S. Senate I will pursue common sense solutions that ease the burden of student debt, while making education more affordable and accessible for all.”
Judge’s education plan, which was announced yesterday, expands access to Pell Grants, provides two-years of community college tuition-free to students who maintain academic standards, and allows students to refinance loans at a lower-rate and longer term.
Judge’s support for Pell Grants stands in contrast to Chuck Grassley’s continued obstruction. Grassley has suggested that increasing access to Pell Grants would only lead to higher tuition and voted against restoring cuts to the Pell Grant program. Additionally, in 2015 he voted for a budget which would eliminate guaranteed funding for Pell Grants, leaving families vulnerable to future budget cuts.
During the roundtable discussion, participants expressed how student loans affect them and their plans for their future:
“I’ve seen dramatic change in the nearly 40 years that I’ve taught…$1.3 trillion dollars is the total amount of student debt in the United States, that exceeds all credit card debt combined...it is a major, major problem.” - Professor Emeritus John Liepa, Des Moines Area Community College
“I know that a lot of my peers and a lot of my friends at Drake, the question of student debt is a big issue that they all care about.” - Ryan McKeever, Drake University
“It is very daunting for a family to save up for that type of experience, paying for two children to go to school at the exact same time.” - Olivia Anderson, Simpson College
