Campus Progress Statement: Act Now Congress, Pass Student Aid
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2010
Contact: Katie Andriulli
(202) 481-8238 or kandriulli@americanprogress.org
Campus Progress Statement: Act Now Congress, Pass Student Aid
WASHINGTON, DC — Statement of Pedro de la Torre III, senior advocacy associate, Campus Progress (the youth arm of the Center for American Progress), on Congress’s pending decision regarding student loan reform and budget reconciliation:
“Congress faces a clear choice: It can continue to provide wasteful government subsidies to student loan companies, or it can use the savings to help hard-working people pay for college. We believe the time has come for Congress to choose students over banks. Congress should include this reform in the reconciliation bill.
If Congress fails to enact President Obama’s student loan reform proposal now, it would represent the worst kind of politics as usual: rewarding wealthy banks for their campaign contributions and relentless lobbying campaigns, and turning its back on hundreds of thousands of people seeking to improve their lives through higher education.
Approving a half-measure pushed by the loan companies would mean continuation of wasteful spending and billions less for education.
We applaud the President and the leaders in Congress who have championed these critical reforms.”
To learn more:
Campus Progress’s Students Over Banks campaign and acclaimed 30 second video:
http://studentsoverbanks.org/
Campus Progress’s widely-cited analysis refuting industry claims on job losses:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091221/de_la_torre
Campus Progress’s explanation of the weaknesses in the industry’s alternative proposal:
http://studentsoverbanks.campusprogress.org/2009/12/sallie-mae-plan-means-4-8-billion-less-for-education/
For more information, or to speak to a Campus Progress higher education spokesperson, please contact Katie Andriulli at 202-481-8238 / kandriulli@americanprogress.org.
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Campus Progress is the youth division of the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan, nonprofit progressive organization. Through programs in activism, journalism, and events, Campus Progress helps young people make their voices heard now on issues that matter, and works with young leaders and organizations nationwide to build a strong, united progressive movement that can bring long-term positive change. Campus Progress runs a daily web magazine, CampusProgress.org; supports student publications on 50 campuses; supports local and national youth issue campaigns; and has held over 700 events and film screenings. For more information, please visitCampusprogress.org.
