AFSCME Endorses Key Legislation that Would Provide Student Debt Relief to Millions of Public Service Workers

WASHINGTON — AFSCME President Lee Saunders issued the following statement in support of the “What You Can Do For Your Country Act of 2019,” which was introduced today by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, and Tim Kaine of Virginia. This legislation would fix transparency issues and expand eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to ensure that public service workers who make their communities safer, stronger and healthier every day are actually receiving the relief they were promised: 

“The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was started to provide student loan debt relief to public service workers who dedicate their careers to bettering their communities. Instead, the program has left millions of workers without a path to forgiveness, benefiting less than 1% of all public service workers who have applied. That’s why AFSCME is proud to endorse the ‘What You Can Do For Your Country Act of 2019,’ which would make eligibility requirements transparent, streamline the application process and close loopholes to give public service workers and their families a fair chance to get ahead. No one should have to take on crippling student loan debt to access the opportunities that come with higher education.”