Education

THE skyrocketing price of textbooks is one reason more college students are finding higher education increasingly unaffordable. “Open” texts — free or low-cost online alternatives to the printed renditions — are a promising potential solution. Students seem to love ’em. But there need to be more open textbooks, and they should be as good, or better, than the… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene introduced bipartisan legislation today to help college students save money on textbooks by encouraging the use of low-cost or free digital course materials in higher education. Called the E-BOOK Act (or Electronic Books Opening Opportunity for Knowledge), the bill will establish up to 10 pilot programs at public institutions throughout the country to… Read more »

Congresswoman DelBene Leads Bipartisan Letter to FCC Chairman Wheeler Urging Action to Improve Internet Access in Schools BOTHELL – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01), along with 25 other members of Congress, sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging action to improve and modernize the federal E-rate program, which has provided critical discounts for… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene gave the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday, voicing her support for the bipartisan compromise to reverse the doubling of student loan interest rates that occurred on July 1, 2013. The Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act will tie rates for student loans to the 10-year Treasury note, lowering the rates for Stafford loans… Read more »

CONGRESS squandered a year of potential progress on student-loan interest rates. The result of its inaction was a sharp rise in rates on Monday.Rates on federally subsidized Stafford loans jumped from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, essentially slapping a $1,000 tax hike on students, according to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.The average student-loan debt is around $25,000, which can include… Read more »

Gathered in the shade on the steps of Suzzallo Library on Monday morning, Democratic members of Washington’s congressional delegation called on Congress to roll back the doubling of student-loan interest rates.The rate on federal subsidized loans rose Monday from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, after Congress was unable to come up with a compromise to retain the lower rate.“The… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene signed onto a discharge petition today to force an up-or-down vote on key legislation that would stop the doubling of the interest rate for subsidized Stafford loans on July 1.  The bill, which DelBene is co-sponsoring, would freeze the interest rate on these loans at 3.4% for the next two years – giving Congress time to enact comprehensive student… Read more »

Student loan rates for millions across the country are set to double on July 1 unless lawmakers in Congress act. They were initially lowered when the recession started to help families as the economy tanked.Right now, the rate on a typical subsidized student loan is 3.4%.  That is set to go to 6.8% on July 1.Washington Congresswoman Suzan DelBene is sponsoring a bill to extend the… Read more »

Washington’s food-stamp program has helped thousands find jobs and get off public assistance through a federally funded employment-training program. A bill in the U.S. House calls for replicating that program nationally.Dede O’Loughlin’s mother dropped out of high school and got by on food stamps. Then O’Loughlin herself became that mother to her three… Read more »

The House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on a plan by Congressional Republicans to avert a scheduled doubling of student loan interest rates. The bill is a bad one that lawmakers should reject in favor of a solution offered by U.S. Rep Suzan DelBene, D-Washington. DelBene’s bill would keep current low student loan interest rates for two years while… Read more »