The following guest commentary was written by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. The promise that the next generation will be able to go further and do better than the last one is the heart of the American Dream. I was fortunate enough to have that chance. I grew up in a
Financial counselors at a Springfield home-buying program are increasingly running into a monumental roadblock when they try to help first-time home buyers qualify for a mortgage: student loans. “In counseling, we actually get down and pull their credit reports for them and look at individual line items with them individually,”
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up with Senator Elizabeth Warren to introduce the Bank on Students Emergency Loans Refinancing Act, which will allow students paying high interest rates on student loans to refinance both public and private federal loans at a fixed, lower interest rate. “In this
The U.S. Department of Education reports that the average total cost of going to a public, 4-year college for one year was $21,000 for in-state students in 2011-2012. And while college costs are spiraling upward, so is student debt. The Institute for College Access and Success finds that 7 in
Portland, OR – As students and their families consider financial aid offers for the 2014-15 school year, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley was joined today by Portland State University students in announcing his cosponsorship of legislation to help tens of millions of graduates refinance their existing federal student loans. National student
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation that would create a new model for college financing to help middle class families pay for college. Merkley’s plan is based on and complements Oregon’s legislation that was passed during the 2013 legislative session and arose from a Portland State University
Eugene, OR – Calling an affordable path to college a key pillar for a strong middle class, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today unveiled legislation that would create a new model for college financing intended to guarantee affordability. Merkley’s plan is based on and complements Oregon’s legislation that was passed during
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate passed a deal to keep student loan rates from doubling. “Access to affordable higher education is one the main pillars of restoring and strengthening the middle class. Anyone who is talented and hardworking, regardless of
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced the introduction of the BUILD (Building Understanding, Investment, Learning, and Direction) Career and Technical Education Act of 2013. This new legislation will provide grants to support state efforts to restart career and technical education programs that have been scaled back or eliminated.
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today called on Congress to block a scheduled July 1st doubling of the interest rate on student loans. Merkley met with students at Portland State University to highlight legislation he is sponsoring that would allow students to pay the same interest rate on
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