To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate

Restore Tax Exempt Status of Graduate and Postdoc Stipends

In an effort to promote higher education, we propose the Obama administration reinstate the federal tax exemption for graduate student and post-doctoral stipends. These stipends, traditionally tax exempt, will incentivize countless students to pursue higher educational goals, resulting in broader positive economic impacts. A highly educated population leads to increased research, bolstering America’s status as global leader in innovation.

This policy will provide our best and brightest with an important financial resource; a tax exemption which would allow for greater quality of life and freedom to contribute significantly to the pursuit of excellence.

Please restore the federal tax exemption for graduate and post-doctoral stipends and bring higher education into the 21st century.

Why is this important?

This petition aims to have the obama administration restore the once held federal tax exemption for graduate students and extend it to post-doctoral fellows. We need to encourage people to pursue higher education degrees, and adding a financial incentive will ensure the best and brightest obtain PhDs and work in the United States to grow our economy and spur innovation.