WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is pressing the Department of Education to review a substantial backlog of federal student loan discharge requests, after the abrupt announcement that Concordia University will close in May 2020. Over 6,000 students are currently enrolled at Concordia University. “I write with ongoing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8) today introduced the Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act of 2019 in the Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would close a loophole that allows for-profit colleges to take federal
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced new bipartisan legislation that would address an injustice for some students wanting to use the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) for higher education. The AOTC is the primary tax credit available to students seeking a higher education;
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Immediately following National Suicide Prevention Week, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA-5) today introduced the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, bicameral legislation that would help fill the critical unmet need for school-based mental health services providers in elementary and secondary schools across America.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Congressmen Joseph Morelle (D-NY-25) and John Katko (R-NY-24), today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2019—legislation to address summer learning inequality by keeping school libraries open at schools that already serve free summer meals. “Every student—no matter
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following Sen. Merkley’s announcement yesterday that the Trump administration will back down from their plan to close Civilian Conservation Center (CCC) Job Corps sites, leaders from communities in Oregon and across the nation are celebrating the good news. Here’s what they’re saying: “One of the greatest obstacles
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today pressed the U.S. Department of Education over prolonged inaction regarding federal student loan discharge requests, and urged Secretary Betsy DeVos to stand up for victims of predatory college scams, many of which were perpetrated by for-profit colleges. Under the Borrower Defense to
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), today introduced the If It’s Good Enough for the Banks, It’s Good Enough for Students Act, legislation that would enable student loan borrowers to refinance their federal student loans at the same
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, today reintroduced legislation to provide much-needed financial certainty for rural counties to ensure they have the long-term funding needed for schools, road maintenance, law enforcement and other essential services. The bipartisan Forest
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed the U.S. Agriculture Department decision to restore full Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program payments for counties and schools. The decision follows Wyden and Merkley’s call for the agency to release the more than $14 million in payments after
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