Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Returning to Student Loan Repayment
While You Were Sleeping, Extreme Republicans Voted to Raise College Costs, Return to DeVos Era Deregulation and Chaos
01.31.24 WASHINGTON - Tonight, Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans advanced legislation—H.R. 6951, the so-called College Cost Reduction Act—that would wreak havoc on our higher education system and inflict pain on students struggling to afford a college degree. H.R. 6951 raises the cost of going to college for students and families by restricting access to federal student aid and affordable loan repayment plans, exposes students and taxpayers to predatory and low-quality institutions by re… Continue Reading
What People Are *Actually* Saying About the So-Called “College Cost Reduction Act”
01.31.24 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans will advance legislation—H.R. 6951, the College Cost Reduction Act—that would wreak havoc on our higher education system and inflict pain on students struggling to afford a college degree. H.R. 6951 raises the cost of going to college for students and families by restricting access to federal student aid and affordable loan repayment plans, exposes students and taxpayers to predatory and low-quality institutions by repealing existing consumer protection… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Delivers Opening Statement at Markup of GOP’s Extreme Bill to Raise Costs, Reduce Access to College
01.31.24 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.R. 6951, the College Cost Reduction Act. “Madam Chair, you’ve heard me quote President Lyndon B. Johnson when he signed the Higher Education Act—when he said that it meant—and I quote: ‘a high school senior anywhere in this great land of ours can apply to any college or any university in any of the 50 states and not be turned away because [their] family i… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Votes “NO” on Republicans’ Plan to Raise Student Loan Payments for 5.5 Million Borrowers
12.07.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby Scott” delivered the following floor remarks in opposition to House Republicans’ proposal to repeal the Saving on a Valuable Education student loan repayment plan (H.J.Res. 88). View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks on YouTube. “Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J.Res. 88, the Congressional Review Act on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. “Last August, the Department of Education launched the SAVE Plan, a new, generou… Continue Reading
As MAGA House Republicans Push for Government Shutdown, Committee GOP Advances Partisan Messaging Bills
09.14.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee Republicans advanced a set of bills—including H.J. Res 88, H.R. 5339, H.R. 5337, and H.R. 5340—that would eliminate the most affordable student loan repayment plan ever offered to borrowers and allow extreme MAGA Republicans, instead of financial experts, to make important investment decisions on behalf of retirement savers. “By this point in the last Congress, Congressional Democrats had already passed the American Rescue Plan Act—which delivered the largest, one-… Continue Reading
As Student Loan Payments Resume, Ranking Member Scott Highlights Education Department Resources, Reforms to Support Borrowers
09.06.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Scott applauded the Department of Education (ED) for its work to support student loan borrowers as student loan payments and interest accrual resume for the first time in just over three years. “With the return to student loan repayment underway, student loan borrowers and their families may be worried about their economic security. Thankfully, the Biden-Harris administration is here to help with resources and reforms that will facilitate a smoother transitio… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on SCOTUS Striking Down Biden’s Student Loan Program
06.30.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in Department of Education v. Brown and Biden v. Nebraska to strike down President Biden’s student loan program. Under the program, 90 percent of the benefits would have gone to borrowers making less than $75,000 a year. “A college education should not depend on how much money a student’s parents make. In fact, when President Johnson signed the Higher Education Act … Continue Reading
Extreme MAGA Republicans Vote to Deny Debt Relief for More Than 20.6 Million of Their Own Constituents
05.24.23 WASHINGTON - Today, House Republicans advanced H.J. Res. 45, which would deny student debt relief for43 million student loan borrowers debt relief, including more than 20.6 million of their own constituents. The resolution could also create chaos for student loan borrowers by potentially forcing them to repay the last four months’ worth of student loan payments. This would trigger a wave of delinquencies and defaults for our most vulnerable borrowers. View Ranking Member Scott’s floor remarks… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Opening Statement at Markup of Resolution to Eliminate President Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan
05.10.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H.J.Res. 45, a Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval that would eliminate President Biden’s student debt relief plan. “Thank you, Dr. Foxx, and good morning. “There are many challenges we have in higher education that demand our attention. For example, students and families face a student debt crisis thanks to the rising cost to attend college a… Continue Reading
Higher Ed Leaders Reintroduce LOAN Act to Lower Cost of College
03.09.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Higher Education and Workforce Development (HEWD) Subcommittee Ranking Member Frederica Wilson (FL-24), and the other Democratic Members of the HEWD Subcommittee unveiled plans to reintroduce the Lowering Obstacles to Achievement Now (LOAN) Act. The LOAN Act would lower the cost of college for current and future student borrowers and their families. The LOAN Act would build on President Bid… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott: President Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan Would “Deliver Life-Changing Support for the Borrowers Who Need It Most”
02.28.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement ahead of the Supreme Court’s session to hear oral arguments on President Biden’s student debt relief plan. “A college education should not depend on how much money a student’s parents make. Yet, the rising cost of tuition, decades of disinvestment in higher education, and the declining relative value of the Pell Grant have left many student loan borrowers with burdensome debt. “That’s why I sup… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Applauds Administration’s Progress to Reduce Student Loan Debt by Fixing Income-Driven Repayment
02.10.23 WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) applauded Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona for the Department’s proposed rule to reform the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) system. The proposed reforms make the IDR program more generous for low-income borrowers, automatically enrolls delinquent borrowers in the IDR program, sunsets old IDR plans, and eliminates monthly accrual of interest to borrowers. “I am encouraged by the Department’s proposed rule, which makes significant change… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Praises ED Proposal to Reduce Student Loan Debt
01.10.23 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration released a proposed rule to improve the Income-Driven Repayment program—which allows borrowers to reduce their monthly repayment amounts, extend repayment periods, and have their loans forgiven after 20-25 years of repayment—by modifying its Revised Pay As You Earn plan. “Today’s announcement marks a major victory for student loan borrowers and will help address the l… Continue Reading