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Published: December 2, 2021
More careers than ever require post-secondary education, yet higher education is increasingly out of reach. Students and families—not public dollars—now fund the bulk of higher education costs.
For years, NEA members advocated canceling college debt to help fix educator shortages. In the last decade under NEA’s advocacy, student loans taken out by 48 million borrowers have been substantially reduced, forgiven, or even canceled outright. This includes more than 1 million public service workers who have received over $78 billion in student debt forgiveness thanks to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
NEA also supports dedicated faculty, staff, and graduate workers of our nation’s colleges and universities who help students pursue their passions. We advocate for safe working conditions, fair pay and benefits, academic freedom, increases to tenure density, and so much more.
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NEA Urges NO Vote on Dangerous Student Aid Bill
Submitted on April 29, 2025
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NEA urges representatives to VOTE NO on FY2025 budget resolution
Submitted on April 8, 2025
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NEA urges senators to VOTE NO on FY2025 budget resolution
Submitted on April 3, 2025
Bills in Congress
Learn NEA's position on pending legislation related to public education, and take action to protect our schools
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Support
HR 2829 SERVICE Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on April 10, 2025
This bill would improve the PSLF program by shortening the time to forgiveness from 10 years to eight, increasing flexibility for borrowers to make qualifying payments, expanding deferment options in lieu of payments to count as qualifying monthly payments, and improving borrowers’ rights and transparency.
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Support
S 1220 Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on April 1, 2025
This bill creates a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan—which links payments to a borrower’s income and family size—to better protect borrowers from unaffordable payments, runaway balances due to rapidly accruing interest, and offer a clearer path to debt relief after at least a decade of payments. The bill codifies, expands, and strengthens the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan that President Biden introduced to help student loan borrowers nationwide in 2023.
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Support
S 994 Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of (PROTECT) Students Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on March 12, 2025
The bill aims to safeguard students from predatory for-profit colleges and ensure higher education meets the needs of hard-working students.
A History Advocating for Higher Education
1965
Higher Education Act Becomes Law
President Johnson signs the Higher Education Act (HEA) into law to “strengthen the educational resources of our colleges and universities and to provide financial assistance for students in postsecondary and higher education.”
1972
Pell Grants Begin
The Pell Grant program, the largest grant program that the U.S. Department of Education offers to undergraduate students, is created.
1992
Higher Education Act Reauthorization
Congress reauthorizes the Higher Education Act and Pres. George H.W. Bush signs it into law. The reauthorization significantly expands the student loan program.
1998
GEAR UP Begins
The Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998 authorize Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). GEAR UP provides six-year grants to help increase the college-going rate of low-income students.
2007
PSLF Program Created
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) is created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. PSLF is designed to encourage students to enter public service professions, such as education, through a promise to forgive student loans after 10 years’ worth of payments.
2008
Higher Education Opportunity Act Enacted
The Higher Education Opportunity Act is enacted, reauthorizing the amended version of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
2021
PSLF Program Overhauled to Meet Educators' Needs
The Biden-Harris administration on October 6 announces an overhaul of the PSLF program, including a broad expansion of the types of payments that count toward loan forgiveness. An estimated 550,000 public-service workers will see their progress toward PSLF grow because of the changes. The overhaul resulted after the administration received 168,000 emails from National Education Association members.
We're speaking up for our students and public schools. Visit our Action Center to find out what you can do.
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Cancel Your Student Debt
By working to cancel student debt and improve forgiveness programs, we can make sure everybody who wants to learn and grow can do so—without exceptions.
