Senator Warner remains committed to ensuring that every Virginian has access to the quality education and training needed to succeed in our global economy, without the burden of crippling student debt.

Having paid for his own undergraduate education with student loans, Senator Warner knows first-hand the financial challenges facing those who seek higher education. Senator Warner will continue to fight for commonsense solutions to make college more affordable and to help those who are already struggling with student debt. Senator Warner believes that if left unaddressed, student debt will be the next financial crisis facing our country.

Senator Warner also knows that college isn’t the only path to success. He believes that we must increase our focus on industry certifications in order to create more routes to good paying jobs for Virginians. 

More information on Senator Warner’s proposals to help borrowers better manage their student loans and to make college more affordable is available here.  

Senator Warner’s Progress:

• Senator Warner introduced the Dynamic Student Loan Repayment Act to make it easier for students to enroll in federal income-based loan repayment programs that allow borrowers to pay down college debt based on their income, making debt more manageable for recent grads just starting out in the workforce. 

• Senator Warner introduced the Employer Participation in Repayment Act to allow employers to contribute up to $5,250 pre-tax to their employees’ federal or private student loans – providing employers with a new tool to recruit and retain quality employees. 

• The Senate approved 'Every Child Achieves Act' included Senator Warner's proposal to help school districts better leverage limited resources by giving them access to important tools to help eliminate unnecessary administrative costs and allow more funding to go into the classroom.

• Senator Warner was an original co-sponsor of the Student Right to Know Before You Go Act to provide college-bound students powerful new tools for comparing colleges and universities on measures such as total cost, likelihood of graduating, and potential earnings.

• Senator Warner and Senator Portman (R-OH) introduced the Go To High School, Go To College Act, which will increase college access for low-income students by allowing them to earn college credits in high school through the Pell Grant program.   

• Senator Warner and a bipartisan group of seven Senate colleagues introduced legislation to combat sexual assault on college and university campuses. The Campus Safety and Accountability Act will help to better protect and empower students, improve reporting, training and best practices, and strengthen transparency and accountability of educational institutions.