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Borrowers, health workers and educators urge Department to preserve PSLF and income-driven repayment at Title IV hearing
Summary
Scores of public commenters at the Education Department hearing urged preserving or expanding Public Service Loan Forgiveness and income-driven repayment, citing retention of nurses, teachers, prosecutors and physicians, the burdens of high debt on borrowers’ lives and calls to avoid narrowing the definition of qualifying employers.
Washington — Dozens of borrowers, students, health-care workers, teachers and public servants urged the U.S. Department of Education on Friday to preserve and strengthen Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and income-driven repayment (IDR) programs as the department begins negotiated rulemaking under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
“Student debt forgiveness is a pathway to economic security,” said Samir Hassan of Young Invincibles, who told the hearing he carries about $125,000 in student debt and that PSLF and IDR allow him to “set money aside to make those dreams a reality.”
Speakers described the programs as critical to recruiting and retaining workers in nursing, teaching, law enforcement, emergency medical services and public defense. Charlie Smith, Frederick County (Md.) state's attorney and chair of the board of the National District Attorneys Association, said PSLF helps keep prosecutors in often understaffed offices and argued that reductions would “accelerate” prosecution shortfalls. Lynn Taylor, an internal medicine…
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