Military spouses gain new education benefits as VA implements Merkley legislation
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley commended today’s announcement by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that the Fry Scholarship will be available starting on November 3, 2014 to spouses of servicemembers who died on active duty. This expanded scholarship comes as a result of legislation authored by Senator
An open door
The state opened doors for students with disabilities when it decided to recognize those earning modified diplomas as graduates — not just completers — who are now eligible for federal financial aid. “It’s really big news,” said Ashland High School Principal Michelle Zundel, who attended sessions in Salem on the
Senator Merkley Pushes for a Bill to Reduce Student Debt
A couple years back, student debt surpassed credit card debt in the U.S. U.S. Senator Merkely supports a bill that would allow students with high interest loans to refinance them. The bill was filibustered last session, but Merkley hopes to revisit it. “I view college as a public good that
Merkley Holds Hearing on Economic Challenges Facing Young Workers and Recent Grads
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Policy, held a hearing yesterday on the economic challenges facing young workers and recent high school and college graduates. The hearing, titled “Dreams Deferred: Young Workers & Recent Grads in U.S. Economy,” focused on
Merkley: Seize ‘the American dream’
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley asked Clatsop Community College’s Class of 2014 Friday to stand up if they were first-generation college students. Promptly, more than half of those graduating were out of their seats. Merkley, a first-generation university student and now a senator facing re-election in five months, promised to fight
Republican Blockade of Student Loan Bill Leaves Students and Economy Behind
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Republicans in the Senate filibustered a bill that would allow students and graduates to refinance student loans into lower interest rates: “When the people’s representatives put millionaires and billionaires before middle-class students who are struggling under the weight of