Menendez, Bergen Community College Professor Support Path Toward Debt-Free College at Senate Dems Forum

Statement

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today joined other Senate Democrats, students, teachers, and advocates at a forum discussing college affordability and the student debt crisis. Menendez introduced New Jerseyan and Bergen Community College Professor Mecheline Farhat Roldan at the roundtable. Her story--a first-generation American and educator with $170,000 in combined student loan debt between her and her husband--outraged many of the Senators, who continually mentioned her experience as an example of why our system needs to change.

"Mecheline and I have a lot in common; we're both New Jerseyans, children of immigrants and have relied on education assistance programs to provide opportunities to seek out the American Dream," said Sen. Menendez. "But our stories unfortunately diverge, because right now we have a college debt crisis in this country, and the burden of student loans have weighed too heavily on Mecheline and her family. We must act in Congress to ease this burden because an entire generation should not be stuck in the red; they should instead be innovating and contributing to our economy."

"High student loan debt affects not only students, but the educators who serve them," said Professor Farhat Roldan. "We cannot ignore this issue any longer if we want to build a vibrant economy that values hard work and public service together."

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