KFVS - U.S. Senator Encourages Students to Support Loan Help Bill

News Article

By Allison Twaits

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin made a stop on Southern Illinois University's campus on Wednesday to discuss ways to lower interest rates on student loans.

Right now, an estimated 1.7 million Illinoisan's hold a combined $47 billion in student loan debt.

Durbin has been working with legislators to pass a bill which would reduce new interest rates and ease the burden of debt for millions.

The Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would allow borrowers to pay back their outstanding loans, saving thousands, and he made an impression on those who attended.

"It starts with a village, which happens to be the 25,000 plus students on this campus and any other campus. It's a huge population and we can make a huge dent in society," said Brione Lockett, a student at SIU.

"This is an ongoing issue and a troubling issue for a lot of students and families and we can do better," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

The bill was blocked in the Senate in September.

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