Video: Remarks at Federal Student Loan Press Conference
April 29, 2025
On April 28, I joined colleagues at a press conference, as well as advocates and students, condemning the changes student loan borrowers are about to face starting in May. The Trump Administration's unrelenting war on middle - & low-income Americans continues with the reversal of a decision on student loan repayments, a policy that went into effect five years ago during Trump's first administration. Now, the Department of Education has been charged with sending accounts in default to collections next month.
The DOE is authorized to garnish wages of up to 15% of a person's disposable income.
While there is no question that people should repay the money they borrowed, reversing the policy now will only exacerbate economic hardships on people who have little to no extra income to cover another expense of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The Connecticut General Assembly must be - & will remain – the last line of defense against the harmful political antics coming out of Washington, D.C. We cannot sit by while punitive federal policies strip dignity & economic security from our residents. That’s why our state’s student loan reimbursement program is not just timely - it’s essential. In just six weeks, we’ve already put more than $1 million back into the pockets of Connecticut residents. And we’re just getting started. The viability & solvency of this program must be protected & expanded, because in Connecticut, we fight for working people, not against them.