Crowley & Clinton Introduce Legislation to Offer Loan Forgiveness to Student Mentors 9/29/2008 Contact: (202) 225-3965 Education press release CROWLEY & CLINTON INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO OFFER LOAN FORGIVENESS TO STUDENT MENTORS Rewards Commitment to Public Service WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Crowley and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton introduced new legislation to offer loan forgiveness to college students who volunteer to serve as mentors for at-risk children. The Supporting Mentors, Supporting Our Youth Act would forgive $10 of student loans for every hour of mentoring with a minimum commitment of one year of service. “We know that there are so many benefits of mentoring for at-risk children, yet it is not always easy to recruit and retain quality mentors,” said Congressman Crowley. “By creating an incentive for college students to become mentors to at-risk children, we are not only helping these students afford a college education, but we are also benefitting those at-risk children whose lives will be forever improved by their relationship with a mentor. I am proud that Senator Clinton and I have created such a win-win proposal.” “A good mentor can make all the difference in the world, serving as friend, role-model and advocate for children who need it most. We should be rewarding those young people who commit to public service, including mentoring at-risk children, and offering incentives to encourage wider participation. September 27th was the National Day of Action and I could not think of a better way of supporting the thousands of communities who mobilized across the country then by introducing this legislation to encourage more people to serve. This legislation will give a little back to those who already give so much themselves,” Senator Clinton said. Congressman Crowley first offered similar legislation to the Supporting Mentors, Supporting Our Youth Act in February 2008 as an amendment to the College Opportunity and Affordability Act (H.R. 4137). This proposal, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously, was targeted at community college students, offering them the opportunity to earn loan forgiveness for their hours of mentoring at-risk children. The Supporting Mentors, Supporting Our Youth Act builds on this success by expanding eligibility for this loan forgiveness program to all college students, reaching more potential mentors. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Crowley has been committed to ensuring greater resources and services for at-risk children, including foster children, and joined with other members of the Committee to pass the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, which provides increased support for foster children. He has also worked to increase funding for youth mentoring programs at the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services and to provide federal funds for New York City groups that provide mentoring and services to at-risk youth. Last year Senator Clinton joined Senator John Kerry (D-MA) to introduce the Mentoring America’s Children Act, which built upon the Mentoring Program in No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The legislation broadens the reach of mentoring to include a number of specific populations of young people who could particularly benefit from a mentor's involvement, including children in foster care and kids in communities with a high rate of youth suicides. Senator Clinton has long championed efforts to renew the nation’s commitment to public service. Earlier this month, Senator Clinton joined Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) in introducing the Serve America Act. The legislation would build a new service corps focused on addressing areas of national need such as education, energy and the environment. The bill would increase opportunities to participate in service for Americans of all ages by encourage students to make service a part of their lives, establishing tax incentives for employers who allow employees paid leave for service, and structuring service opportunities for seniors and retirees. The legislation would create provisions to partner with social entrepreneurs to support service programs in the nonprofit sector, and would expand the Peace Corps to improve America’s service role in the international community. Last year, Senator Clinton reintroduced the U.S. Public Service Academy Act (PSA). The PSA will establish an undergraduate academy designed to cultivate a new generation of young leaders dedicated to public service. Modeled after the military service academies, the Public Service Academy will provide a four-year, federally-subsidized college education for more than 5,000 students a year in exchange for a five year commitment to public service following graduation. She also introduced The Coaching Our Adolescents to College Heights Act (COACH Act), which would create a pilot AmeriCorps program to recruit, train and place recent college graduates, or coaches, in high schools to help to prepare low- and middle-income, high-performing high school students for success in college. Senator Clinton is also the champion of The Senior Year Community Service Act, legislation that would promote community service among high school seniors by connecting them with service opportunities within their schools and communities.   Washington 2404 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202)225-3965 Queens 74-09 37th Ave Suite 306-B Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (718)779-1400 Co-op City 177 Dreiser Loop Bronx, NY 10475 (718)320-2314 Bronx 2800 Bruckner Blvd Bronx, NY 10465 (718)931-1400