WASHINGTON, DC —Today Representatives Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Susan A. Davis (CA-53) led nearly 50 members of the Democratic Caucus on a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies on President Trump’s proposed budget. The members are asking that the subcommittee reject the proposal in the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget to eliminate subsidized Stafford Loans within the Department of Education budget.

“With the cost of a college education and the debt needed to afford it growing every year, Americans are demanding action to lower the crushing cost of higher education. Unfortunately, the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget proposal would make college more expensive,” wrote the members. “As you know, subsidized student loans are utilized by low-income undergraduate students, many of whom would not otherwise be able to attend an institution of higher education. In fact, in the last school year, over six million students borrowed through this program. Subsidized student loans allow a student to earn a degree without needing to burden themselves with the crushing costs of student loan interest rates. We owe it to the next generation of college students to push for student loan policies that will not hold them back.

“Despite these facts, the Administration remains willing to remove this important source of financial aid for America’s neediest college-bound students using a fact-free justification. Student debt is a drag not just on a student, graduate, or their family; it’s a drag on our entire economy that impacts when – or if – a borrower can buy a home, start a family, get a business off the ground, or change careers. To divert resources from students who need it most, our nation is only perpetuating our student debt crisis.”

The President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget proposes phasing out the subsidized Stafford Loans program that subsidizes interest on Stafford Loans for students while enrolled in school and for six months after leaving school. For a student taking out the maximum loan amount, ending this program means they would owe an additional $5,700 in interest when entering loan repayment. Over the next decade, this phase-out will cost students and families $39 billion.

In 2015, 70% of college seniors graduated with debt. Moreover, more than one in four borrowers will enter into delinquency or default on their student loans. According to a recent analysis, a quarter of borrowers default over the life of their loans. With interest rates scheduled to rise again this summer, it is clear that the student debt loan crisis shows no sign of slowing down. This is why Congress must address student loan debt and reject President Trump’s budget cuts.

The full letter can be viewed online or below:

June 6, 2017

The Honorable Tom Cole                                                     The Honorable Rosa DeLauro
Chairman                                                                            Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human                           Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education and Related Agencies                              Services, Education and Related Agencies
Committee on Appropriations                                               Committee on Appropriations
U.S. House of Representatives                                              U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515                                                         Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro:

With the cost of a college education and the debt needed to afford it growing every year, Americans are demanding action to lower the crushing cost of higher education. Unfortunately, the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget proposal would make college more expensive. As you continue to develop your FY 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we write to express our strong opposition to the Administration’s proposed elimination of subsidized Stafford Loans within the Department of Education budget.

As you know, subsidized student loans are utilized by low-income undergraduate students, many of whom would not otherwise be able to attend an institution of higher education. In fact, in the last school year, over six million students borrowed through this program. Subsidized student loans allow a student to earn a degree without needing to burden themselves with the crushing costs of student loan interest rates. We owe it to the next generation of college students to push for student loan policies that will not hold them back.

In the justification for phasing out subsidized loan programs in the 2018 Major Savings and Reforms document, the Office of Management and Budget states “in-school interest subsidy has not been rigorously evaluated.” Yet, the subsidized Stafford Loan program has proven to make college more affordable for low-income students. Ending the availability of this loan will increase college costs by thousands of dollars per student borrower. By removing the interest subsidy for Stafford Loans, a student taking out the maximum loan would likely owe an additional $5,700 in interest when entering loan repayment. Over the next decade, phasing out the subsidized Student Loan program alone would cost students and families across the country $39 billion.

Despite these facts, the Administration remains willing to remove this important source of financial aid from America’s neediest college-bound students using a fact-free justification. Student debt is a drag not just on a student, graduate, or their family; it’s a drag on our entire economy that impacts when – or if – a borrower can buy a home, start a family, get a business off the ground, or change careers. To divert resources from students who need it most, our nation is only perpetuating our student debt crisis.

Every student deserves access to an excellent education and the subsidized Stafford Loan program is an essential part of achieving the college dream for millions of Americans. We therefore urge the subcommittee to maintain the subsidized Stafford Loan program in the FY 2018 appropriations bill and thank you for your continued support for higher education programs.

Sincerely,

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Contact: Ally Kehoe, Communications Director
ally.kehoe@mail.house.gov