Today in America, hundreds of thousands of bright young people who have the desire and the ability to get a college education will not be able to do so because their families lack the money.

Time and time again, young people are forced to choose between mountains of college debt or giving up on their dreams of a higher education.

This is a tragedy for those young people and their families, but it is also a tragedy for our nation. Our mission must be to give those people hope.

It is not a question of whether or not we can afford to ensure all students and graduates have the opportunity to thrive — of course we can. It’s a question of if we’re willing to prioritize it.

That is why we’re introducing the College for All Act, legislation that makes community college free for everyone and eliminates tuition and fees at public colleges and universities for families making up to $125,000.

This legislation will free students from a lifetime of debt, invest in working people, and transform higher education in America. Tuition-free college is the norm in other modern nations, and it’s time for us to join them.

In a competitive global economy, we need to have the best educated workforce in the world so that all our young people, regardless of income, have the right to a higher education.

Eliminating tuition and fees at public colleges for families making up to $125,000 would help nearly 80% of families. And making community college free would help everyone.

Our bill also doubles the maximum Pell Grant to $12,290 and allows students to use that money to cover living and non-tuition expenses like books and housing.

But how do we pay for it, Bernie?

A question no one ever asks about tax breaks for the rich at home or our endless wars abroad...

That’s the truth.

We pay for it by a Wall Street speculation tax of .5% on stock trades, .1% fee on ads and a .005% fee on derivatives that would raise $2.4 trillion over the next decade.

Our bill has a number of co-sponsors and is endorsed by organizations like the American Federation of Teachers, SEIU, MoveOn, and many others.

But now we need you.

Yes, we need you to convince Congress to pass our bill.

Add your name as a Citizen Co-Sponsor of our College for All Act that would make community colleges free for everyone and eliminates tuition and fees at public colleges and universities for families making up to $125,000.

Thank you for joining us in this fight.