Delivering Relief for Students

Dear Friends,

This week, I reintroduced H.R. 1919, the Enhanced Access to SNAP (EATS) Act with Congressmen Josh Harder and Jimmy Panetta. This bill would permanently extend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to millions of college students experiencing hunger on a daily basis.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 25% of college students experienced food insecurity and that number has only grown, especially among students of color and first-generation college students.

This hunger crisis is unacceptable. That's why 49 California organizations wrote to Congressional leadership supporting my bill and urging for congressional action.

Student Loan Debt Help

I also secured a BIG VICTORY in our fight to cancel student debt! Included in the American Rescue Plan Act, my bill, H.R. 1564, would make any future student loan debt forgiveness tax-free for borrowers!

Before this legislation became law, student loan debt forgiven by the federal government could have been counted as taxable income. But now, that burden is gone. As an example, a family of four that earns $100,000 per year and has $50,000 in college loans forgiven could receive more than $10,000 in tax savings.

This is a big deal and paves the way for bold executive action from President Biden to cancel student debt!