I joined my friend Bernie Sanders this morning to introduce our College for All Act. This bill would make the most substantial federal investment in higher education in modern American history.
We're introducing this landmark legislation at a moment in which more than 45 million Americans hold over $1.7 trillion in student loan debt — and nearly 1 in 4 of those borrowers were behind on payments even BEFORE the pandemic started. That's not right, but we can fix it.
The College for All Act will end the debt spiral that too many working families find themselves in by eliminating tuition and fees at public colleges and universities for families making up to $125,000. That's nearly 80 percent of families! Our bill also makes community college and trade schools free for every person across the country.
Bernie and I will work hard to pass this bill — but we can't do it alone. Can you add your name and join us as a citizen co-sponsor of the College for All Act?
Add Your Name »
While President Biden can and should immediately cancel student debt for millions of borrowers, Congress must act to ensure that working families NEVER have to take out these crushing loans to receive a higher education in the first place. If passed, the College for All Act would:
- Guarantee tuition-free community college for ALL students
- Ensure that students from families earning under $125,000 a year can attend public colleges and universities tuition-free AND debt-free
- Guarantee that students in families who earn less than $125,000 a year can attend non-profit HBCUs, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions tuition-free and debt-free, in addition to making an annual $10 billion federal investment to cover student support programs in these under-funded institutions
- Double the maximum Pell Grant to $12,990, allowing students to use this money to cover living and non-tuition expenses while expanding grant eligibility to Dreamers
And we're going to pay for this long-overdue investment in working families by taxing Wall Street. Let's get it done.
If you're with me, Bernie, and millions of Americans who believe a college education can — and should — be free in our country, add your name as a citizen co-sponsor of our College for All Act today.
Add Your Name »
In solidarity,
Pramila
