Congress is rushing to pass sweeping changes to federal student aid through budget reconciliation – changes that would devastate economic mobility in our communities. They’re aiming for a July 4 deadline, and your senators need to hear from you immediately.
The Biggest Threats to Our Students and Families
Higher education becomes a privilege: Borrowing caps, eliminated safety nets, and rigid repayment options mean college becomes accessible primarily to wealthy families. Graduate education becomes nearly impossible for students from working families.
Safety nets disappear: Elimination of Economic Hardship and Unemployment Deferments means no relief during job loss or crisis, pushing more borrowers into default and financial consequences. Long-standing guidelines for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income Driven Repayment Forgiveness will change, leaving more borrowers out.
Families face impossible choices: Parent PLUS loans would be locked into rigid standard repayment plans with no income-driven options. Combined with borrowing limits and new definitions that don’t account for a student’s complete need, more families will have to choose between forgoing education for their children, or taking out predatory private loans.
Borrowers’ financial plans go out the window: When student loan borrowers took out their loans and chose their repayment plans, it was with the understanding that those terms were promised. Current borrowers will see reduced options for repayment and protection from financial consequences, and changes to the monthly repayment terms they were told they could expect.
You can read more about the biggest impacts in the Senate’s proposal from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, NASFAA, here: https://www.nasfaa.org/news-item/36533/Cassidy_Unveils_Senate_s_Education_Portion_of_Reconciliation
Why This Hits the South Hardest
Our region already faces persistent challenges with rural healthcare shortages, teacher retention, and limited pathways to economic mobility. Federal student aid has been one of our most powerful tools for building stronger communities. These changes would slam that door shut for countless students and families, putting Southern states in particular in the position of needing to spend more state dollars just to maintain our current status quo.
Take Action Today
Call Your Senators Right Now:
- Find your senators: senate.gov/senators/find_your_senator.htm
- Utilize our Call Script_ CLICK HERE to tell your senators to oppose harmful changes to student aid. Let your elected representatives know how these changes would impact you personally.
Follow Up:
- Send a written message to your elected representatives using NASFAA’s advocacy toolkit: https://www.nasfaa.org/reconciliation_cta
- Forward this article to colleagues and partners
- Contact your state’s higher education associations
Why Your Voice Matters: The Senate is revising the House bill right now. With the reconciliation process moving fast and limiting debate, direct constituent pressure is one of the few ways to influence the outcome.
The Bottom Line
The Higher Education Act of 1965 promised that no student should be denied college because of cost. These changes abandon that promise and create a system that works only for the wealthy.
The borrowers that count on economic mobility through education can’t wait. Our communities can’t wait.
Thank you for standing up for students and their families.