eNewsletters
5/12/15Reducing college costs
Washington, DC,
May 12, 2015
Tags:
Education
Dear Friend, The costs of higher education continue to rise, posing serious challenges to millions of students and their families – many of whom are being forced to take out larger loans to pay for tuition, fees, textbooks and housing. That’s why one of my top priorities in Congress is working to provide relief for borrowers who are struggling under the weight of student loan debt. Earlier this year, I cosponsored the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act to allow borrowers with existing student debt to refinance their loans to today’s lower rates, putting money back into the pockets of working families trying to make ends meet. Every year in Washington state, 56 percent of graduates leave school with more than $23,000 in student debt. This bill would help 451,000 Washingtonians refinance their student loans. .jpg)
While I was in Mount Vernon last week, I met with students from Skagit Valley College. We discussed the need for innovative ways to reduce the cost of higher education, such as legislation I recently introduced called the E-BOOK Act. This bill would expand students’ access to digital course materials, providing an important opportunity to reduce the cost of textbooks for students and their families. As the price of new, hardcopy textbooks continues to rise, students and faculty should be able to take advantage of digital textbooks, which are estimated to cost as much as 50 percent less than print textbooks. To help students achieve these cost-savings, the E-BOOK Act would expand the availability of e-readers and tablet computers for low-income students and provide faculty with the tools to effectively incorporate digital learning into their instruction. In the months and years to come, I will continue to fight for solutions that put students first and ensure higher education is never out of reach. I came to Congress to find solutions and deliver results, and as we move forward on these issues, I’ll keep fighting for effective policies that work for our nation’s students and graduates. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the financial aid and loans that helped me to get a great education. I’m committed to ensuring today’s students have the same opportunities that were available to me. As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you, I encourage you to contact me through my website. You may also keep up-to-date on what I’m doing by following me on Twitter or liking my Facebook page. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, such as the IRS or the VA, or if you are having problems with your Social Security or Medicare, please do not hesitate to contact my Bothell office at (425) 485-0085. Best,
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