| Keeping College Affordable |
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The federal government can and should do more to invest in our students and schools as states struggle to provide adequate K-12 funding, as well as affordable higher education opportunities. Quality education creates sound building blocks for future generations, yet recent trends indicate that American students are falling behind their foreign counterparts in nearly all subjects. DeFazio Bill to Stop Student Loan Increases | DeFazio Scholarship Program | Student Loan Information | Recent DeFazio Floor Speeches | Must Reads
DeFazio Bill to Stop Student Loan Increases College tuition at four year institutions has increased by an average of 37% over the last 10 years according to the Department of Education. Tuition has skyrocketed and students have taken on larger and more expensive loans to get their degree. In less than a month, young Americans receiving Stafford student loans to pay for higher education will see their interest rates on those loans double unless Congress acts. If the rates double, college students with Stafford loans will see an average of $4,000 added to the amount they owe. The next generation of business leaders, political leaders, doctors, teachers, engineers and others shouldn't be priced out of a quality education. I have proposed legislation that would permanently keep interest rates low for students without increasing the federal deficit. We need to end tax loopholes for millionaires and billionaires and use the money to pay for more affordable loans for students.
DeFazio understands the importance of higher education and he could not have attended college without the assistance of financial aid. This is why he established a scholarship fund for dislocated workers at five community colleges in southwest Oregon. Since he has consistently refused the pay raises that other Members of Congress keep passing for themselves, the scholarship fund lets him use that excess pay to benefit Oregonians. By the end of 2012, DeFazio will have contributed $348,000 of after-tax salary toward 217 scholarships and debt reduction. He counts these scholarships among of his proudest accomplishments.
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission provides comprehensive information about funds available only to Oregon residents (including the DeFazio scholarship). www.oregonstudentaid.gov The common college application provides information about the college amissions at over 450 colleges and univeristies. www.commonapp.org A great place to start planning your future after high school - Oregon Career Information System (CIS). CIS provides free comprehensive national college and university information and information about career schools. www.oregoncis.uoregon.edu Mapping Your Future is a college planning website developed as a public service by loan guarantee organizations. www.mapping-your-future.org “How to Choose a College: Guide for the Student with a Disability” is for special needs students: www.heath.gwu.edu The federal government portal to financial aid and other financial aid resources, with access to the FAFSA: www.studentaid.ed.gov Explore the Oregon University System at www.ous.edu and community colleges at www.oregon.gov/CCWD Explore Oregon’s private career schools at www.ode.state.or.us and private Oregon colleges and universities at www.stateoforegon.com/schools
Funding for graduate education slashed in new deal- Daily Emerald 8-7-11 Leaders debate end to college loan subsidies- Daily Emerald 7-17-11 Thanks to Peter DeFazio for deferring raises to scholarships- LTE Corvallis Gazette-Times 10-29-10 Congressman helped 33 go to college- Coos Bay World 2-2-10 Logger uses funds to pursue teaching dream- Coos Bay World 2-2-10 DeFazio aids scholarships- Coos Bay World 1-20-10 Open Letter on the Economic Stimulus Package- Peter DeFazio op-ed 2-14-09
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