Fighting Student Loan Debt

From the AFT:

The deadline for Congress to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling is almost here, and it's time for Congress to take action. Congress must take action before July 1 to keep interest rates from doubling. Both Democrats and Republicans have supported the one-year extension that would keep interest rates on student loans from doubling; it’s time to get it done.

We’re racing against the clock. Send your members of Congress a message today.

The doubling interest rates on new federal student loans, called Stafford loans, will affect more than 7.4 million students as well as those who are college-bound, increasing their costs by an average of $1,000.

Urge your elected officials to keep college affordable. Write your members of Congress today.

Students are already swimming in a rising sea of debt, graduating from college with an average of $25,000 in loans to repay. For recent grads, the burden is especially daunting. They face higher rates of unemployment because of the current economy, and low entry-level wages if they are lucky enough to find jobs. Most agree that there could hardly be a worse time to double the interest rates on student loans.

The deadline is approaching. Write your members of Congress today!

A high-quality public education is the gateway to the middle class, and preserving the American dream means keeping college affordable and accessible.

In unity,
Tor Cowan
AFT Legislative Director