Dear Neighbor,
As part of my broader concern about opportunity, this fall I'm participating in a 'Working Group for the Relief of Connecticut Borrowers.' We're hearing presentations on programs affecting Connecticut students and graduates with higher education debt.
Much discussion about the GOP budget has centered on health care. But HR 1 also made drastic changes to access to, and affordability, of higher education. We're looking at the details, and hope to address this issue in the coming session.
The HR 1 act eliminates the Grad PLUS loan program, imposes strict caps on Parent PLUS loans, dissolves multiple existing repayment plans, and introduces a single Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) set to launch in July 2026. The new PSLF criteria alone could affect millions.
Until now, access to higher education was not partisan. In fact, President George W. Bush initiated the first large-scale federal student loan forgiveness program in 2007 with the creation of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. But the Trump administration has targeted both universities and students with punishing proposals.
This is a complex area, and I hope to share of the materials we're requesting.
The federal budget - passed on a party line vote - limits our workforce, and takes away opportunity for many. I'm hoping we can limit the damage and protect opportunity. |
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