Senator Hassan Statement on Student Debt Forgiveness Announcement

WASHINGTON – Following the administration’s student debt forgiveness announcement, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) issued the following statement:

"The rising cost of higher education has led to greater and greater debt for far too many Granite Staters. While I do not support canceling all student debt -- believing instead that we need to focus on targeted relief and bringing down the cost of higher education -- the administration's announcement is a balanced compromise approach that will help those who need it the most. I will continue to work to make higher education and job training programs more affordable and ensure that our young people and economy are not held back by student debt.”

Throughout her time as Governor and in the Senate, Senator Hassan has worked to make higher education more affordable. For instance, in the last government funding bill, the Senator successfully pushed to increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $400, the largest increase in more than a decade, and she has introduced legislation to double the Pell Grant. Senator Hassan has also introduced legislation to ensure affordable, simple income-based repayment plans for all federal student loan borrowers and allow borrowers to refinance at lower rates. As Governor, she froze in-state tuition at state universities for the first time in 25 years while lowering tuition at community colleges.

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