Casey co-sponsoring bill to help students with debt
U.S. Senate Democrats are seeking Republican co-sponsors ahead of a bill to be introduced next week aimed at reducing existing and future student loan debt.
Sen. Bob Casey said Wednesday on a conference call with reporters that the “In The Red” Act would combine previous Senate bills to allow refinancing of students’ interest rates, provide free community college for students with good grades, and tie Pell grants to Consumer Price Index rates. The three-pronged bill, Casey said, would address central problems with student loan obligations, but it “isn’t a magic wand to wipe away all debt.”
“There are 42 million Americans who owe $1.3 trillion in student loan debt. That’s profound. Students burdened with debt right out of college may delay purchasing a car, a home or even getting married. Our democracy requires a well-educated and economically-viable electorate,” the Democratic senator said.
In Pennsylvania, the average debt of a student is $32,000. About 1.2 million Pennsylvanians owe loan payments.
“We need to allow students to refinance. This is similar to the goal Sen. Elizabeth Warren sought a couple years back. For a student to be able to lower their rate will allow them to pay monthly payments more effectively,” Casey said.
Casey said he is seeking Republican co-sponsors or contributors.
“Students in debt aren’t just one party. There’s no political affiliation for that. I hope as Republicans wrestle with answers that they join. On most days we have the best workforce in the world. But we need to ensure that’s the always the case,” Casey said.
The “In The Red” Act is a combination of Massachusetts Sen. Warren’s Bank on Student Loans Emergency Refinancing Act; Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s America’s College Promise Act; and Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono’s Pell Grant expansion provision.