Congresswoman Cheri Bustos Votes To Keep College Affordable For Illinois Families

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) voted for a bipartisan compromise that will help keep college more affordable for Illinois families by keeping student loan interest rates low.

"Making education more affordable and accessible should always be a priority. While today's bill isn't perfect, it reflects a bipartisan compromise, and the end result is that college will be more affordable for Illinois families and students this year," said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. "I'll continue to do everything I can to make college more affordable because as the mother to three sons, I know firsthand that access to a quality education is the key to achieving the American Dream."

Bustos has been a leader when it comes to making college affordable for Illinoisans. In April, Bustos introduced the Student Loan Relief Act of 2013 (H.R. 1595), that would keep interest rates on federally subsidized Stafford student loans locked in place at 3.4 percent so that hardworking families across Illinois are not burdened by higher costs for college come next school year. She also held a college affordability roundtable back home in Illinois, signed a "discharge petition" that would force House leadership to bring her bill to keep student loan interest rates low to the House floor for a vote, and wrote a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor urging them to allow a vote on her bill to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1st.

Bustos also conducted a week-long "Communities Working Together For Jobs" listening tour across the 17th Congressional District of Illinois. During this week-long tour of the seven community colleges that serve the region, Bustos learned more about the ways local community colleges and businesses are coming together to address the skills gap, increase American manufacturing and put people back to work.

To address concerns she heard during the tour, Bustos then introduced the Access to Education and Training Act, which would allow students who receive Pell grants to take advantage of the Pell grants year-round, including during the summer months, even if the student went to school full-time during the fall and spring semesters. Many of those who would benefit most are non-traditional students who want to complete their courses faster so they can get back into the workforce.

Bustos also authored an op-ed on the need to keep college affordable.

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