To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Tell Congress and the Senate to Vote "Yes" on the Student Loan Fairness Act of 2013!
Don't sacrifice the stability of our nation's economy and infrastructure by cutting funding to higher education! A better-educated society contributes its intellectual wealth to a stronger economy! Vote "Yes" on the Student Loan Fairness Act of 2013 presented by Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA)!
Why is this important?
My name is Ron Rodriguez, and I'm a first-generation college student enrolled in the TRIO program, which helps low-income and first-generation students like myself enter college with the guidance and resources necessary to succeed and become contributing members of society. Thanks to the guidance of my TRIO counselors, I am an honor student with a 4.0 GPA, and an active member of my college community. However, due to the budget sequester-- the TRIO program-- among other vital education services, loans, and programs, is suffering from massive budget cuts, crippling an already ailing program.
This week of March 18th, 2013, Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA) will present a bill written in cooperation with the United States Student Association (U.S.S.A.) called the Student Debt Fairness Act of 2013.
This bill serves to protect past, present, and future students, including but not limited to: veterans, first-generation students, Upward Bound students, students with disabilities, low-income students, immigrant students, and students receiving Federal loans such as the subsidized Stafford Loan and Pell Grants, from drastic cuts to vital education programs and services. Federal Work Study will see $49 million in cuts, $406 will be cut from Head Start, and $725 million will be cut from Title 1 Grants for disadvantaged public schools, affecting approximately 1.2 million low-income K-12 students.
Some college campuses are putting further caps on enrollment into the TRIO program, which serves veterans, low-income, first-generation, minority, and immigrant students.
TRIO is facing budget cuts and enforced enrollment reductions due to budget limitations. The TRIO program has suffered $66 million in systematic budget cuts since 2005, and those cuts will increase by another $42 million due to the 'sequestration'.
The interest rate of the subsidized Stafford Loan is currently set at 3.4%, but that rate is set to expire in July of this year. Afterward, it will double to 6.8%, with no grace period for college graduates to seek out employment.
The Marines have announced they have stopped their Military Education Tuition Assistance Program immediately as a result of the sequester.
These are just some of the issues that we should ALL be concerned with as they relate to our nation's education system and economic stability. Building a better higher education system for ALL of our students results in a brighter future for all of us, as they go on to lead productive lives that strengthen our nation's economy, our infrastructure, and our relationships abroad in this growing global economy.
Tell them that our college students MUST have the opportunity to pay off their student loans with a fair interest rate, and not be saddled with excessive debt. Tell them that our veterans and students with disabilities WANT their chance to become stronger citizens! First-generation and lower-income students WANT to be citizens that are productive and contribute their talents and skills to our society, and contribute to a stronger economy! Don't cut their programs! Don't cut education funding! That's the foundation of a stronger economy, not budget cuts to education!
Tell your Senators and Congress to vote "Yes" on the Student Loan Fairness Act of 2013!
This week of March 18th, 2013, Congresswoman Karen Bass (CA) will present a bill written in cooperation with the United States Student Association (U.S.S.A.) called the Student Debt Fairness Act of 2013.
This bill serves to protect past, present, and future students, including but not limited to: veterans, first-generation students, Upward Bound students, students with disabilities, low-income students, immigrant students, and students receiving Federal loans such as the subsidized Stafford Loan and Pell Grants, from drastic cuts to vital education programs and services. Federal Work Study will see $49 million in cuts, $406 will be cut from Head Start, and $725 million will be cut from Title 1 Grants for disadvantaged public schools, affecting approximately 1.2 million low-income K-12 students.
Some college campuses are putting further caps on enrollment into the TRIO program, which serves veterans, low-income, first-generation, minority, and immigrant students.
TRIO is facing budget cuts and enforced enrollment reductions due to budget limitations. The TRIO program has suffered $66 million in systematic budget cuts since 2005, and those cuts will increase by another $42 million due to the 'sequestration'.
The interest rate of the subsidized Stafford Loan is currently set at 3.4%, but that rate is set to expire in July of this year. Afterward, it will double to 6.8%, with no grace period for college graduates to seek out employment.
The Marines have announced they have stopped their Military Education Tuition Assistance Program immediately as a result of the sequester.
These are just some of the issues that we should ALL be concerned with as they relate to our nation's education system and economic stability. Building a better higher education system for ALL of our students results in a brighter future for all of us, as they go on to lead productive lives that strengthen our nation's economy, our infrastructure, and our relationships abroad in this growing global economy.
Tell them that our college students MUST have the opportunity to pay off their student loans with a fair interest rate, and not be saddled with excessive debt. Tell them that our veterans and students with disabilities WANT their chance to become stronger citizens! First-generation and lower-income students WANT to be citizens that are productive and contribute their talents and skills to our society, and contribute to a stronger economy! Don't cut their programs! Don't cut education funding! That's the foundation of a stronger economy, not budget cuts to education!
Tell your Senators and Congress to vote "Yes" on the Student Loan Fairness Act of 2013!