Public Service Loan Forgiveness Letter 7/18/2017

July 18, 2017

United States Congress

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator/Representative:

On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we urge you to oppose eliminating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program as the Trump/DeVos fiscal year 2018 education budget proposal would do.

Part of the bipartisan College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, PSLF was created to encourage talented people to pursue careers as educators, firefighters, nurses, public defenders, and other forms of public service that typically pay less than private sector careers. As a result, it can be difficult to attract qualified people, especially in underserved rural, urban, and tribal communities.

Under PSLF, federal student debt is wiped away after 120 on-time, qualifying monthly

payments — 10 years’ worth of payments. The numbers tell the story of the program’s success:

more than half a million people have enrolled over the last decade.

Loan forgiveness not only makes public service affordable, it demonstrates that America values the skills and commitment of the people who provide essential public services. Without PSLF, community life all across America would suffer. We urge you to build on the success of this vitally important program, not eliminate it.

Thank you for considering our views.

AccessLex Institute

American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Dance Therapy Association

American Federation of Teachers

American Music Therapy Association American School Counselor Association Association of Education Service Agencies Communications Workers of America Consumer Action

Council for Opportunity in Education

Faith in Florida

Florida Consumer Action Network

Higher Ed, Not Debt

Higher Education Consortium for Special Education (HECSE)

Higher Education Loan Coalition

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

International Association of Fire Fighters

International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) League of United Latin American Citizens

Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition

Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO

National Association for College Admission Counseling

National Association of School Psychologists

National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP) National Center for Transgender Equality

National College Access Network

National Council for Community and Education Partnerships National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

National Education Association

National Employment Law Project

National Federation of Federal Employees National Indian Education Association National Science Teachers Association

One Wisconsin Now

Progress Virginia

Public Advocacy for Kids

Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts

Rural School and Community Trust

School Social Work Association of America Service Employees International Union Student Debt Crisis

Teach For America

Teach Plus

Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children

The Alliance for Youth Action

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee
The Council on Social Work Education

The National of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
UNCF
United University Professors
US Student Association
Veterans Education Services
Young Invincibles