Gary Turco

STATEMENT FROM REPS. PARIS, KAVROS DEGRAW, TURCO, & SANCHEZ REGARDING DECISIONS MADE ON FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM

Federal decisions will deepen existing financial hardships & push families into poverty

 

The following is a collaborative statement from Reps. Corey Paris, Eleni Kavros DeGraw, Gary Turco, and Manny Sanchez. Individual quotes can be found at the bottom. 

The Trump Administration's unrelenting war on middle- and low-income Americans continues with the recent reversal of a decision on student loan repayments, a policy that went into effect five years ago during Trump's first administration. Now, the Department of Education has been charged with sending accounts in default to collections beginning in May. 

The DOE is authorized to garnish wages of up to 15% of a person's disposable income.

Currently, more than 5 million borrowers are in default, and another 4 million are in "late-stage delinquency" and facing default, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Those in default will also face wage garnishments and payment withholdings (such as an anticipated tax refund and Social Security payments).

While there is no question people should repay money they borrowed (something President Trump has a long and dubious history of not doing himself), reversing the policy now will only exacerbate economic hardships on people who have little to no extra income to cover another expense of hundreds or even thousands of dollars, thus, another Trump Administration attack on middle-and low-income Americans. 

For those who are unsure of whether they are in default on their federal student loans, log in to StudentAid.gov to check on the status of the debt.

 

State Representative Corey Paris (D-Stamford)

 

“This decision by the Trump administration is not just a slap in the face - it’s a cruel and calculated assault on more than 500,000 hardworking Connecticut borrowers who are already doing everything they can to stay afloat. To threaten them with the loss of their tax refunds and the garnishment of up to 15% of their disposable income is unconscionable. It will not only deepen existing financial hardship but push countless families closer to poverty.

 

This is exactly why the Connecticut General Assembly must be - and will remain – the last line of defense against the harmful political antics coming out of Washington, D.C. We cannot sit by while punitive federal policies strip dignity and economic security from our residents. That’s why our state’s student loan reimbursement program is not just timely - it’s essential. In just six weeks, we’ve already put more than $1 million back into the pockets of Connecticut residents. And we’re just getting started. The viability and solvency of this program must be protected and expanded, because in Connecticut, we fight for working people, not against them.”

 

State Representative Gary Turco (D-Newington)

“While the repayment program was always going to start up again, the timing couldn't be worse, as President Trump's tariffs are about to hit store shelves in the form of higher prices. Having student loan recipients restart their payments now or face draconian wage garnishment measures is going to drive many people closer to poverty. My colleagues and I will continue to work to act as a firewall against this federal administration's worst impulses.”

State Representative Eleni Kavros DeGraw (D-Avon and Canton)

“Student loan debt drags down individuals and our economy. As a society, we continue to encourage people to go to college in order to achieve higher salaries in the workplace and increase their earning potential over their lifetimes, and even if they have scholarships, they are often not enough to cover the cost of college today. The student loan debt relief program changed lives for the better, allowing people to start families, purchase cars and homes, and participate fully in the economy. Pulling the rug out from under them is cruel and pointless. 

 

In Connecticut, we recognized the importance of student loan debt relief with our one-of-a-kind legislation that has already reimbursed over a million dollars to Connecticut borrowers. We will continue to lead the nation in remembering that a college education shouldn’t end up costing you more than the value of your degree.”

 

State Representative Manny Sanchez (D-New Britain)

“Here we go again - another cruel blow to the working people of this country. In Connecticut alone, nearly half a million people could lose tax refunds or see their wages garnished. These are families who are already struggling to get by. I urge the president and those in power to take a step back. Look at the real impact of these decisions. This isn’t policy. It’s punishment. And the people who can least afford it will pay the highest price.”
 

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