Posts Tagged ‘SAFRA’

News New York Times Comes Out in Support of SAFRA

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

In a bold editorial today, The New York Times threw its support behind the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), which was passed by the House Education and Labor Committee yesterday. Despite bi-partisan support for the bill in committee, many Republicans in Congress and in the Senate are gearing up to fight tooth and nail to defeat the bill and protect the interests of banks and student loan companies. As the Times says in the editorial:

“The arguments for passing this bill and ending the subsidy program are powerful. But the Republican leadership has distorted the debate by describing the bill as a plan for pushing private capital out of student lending. It would be more accurate to describe it as a plan for pushing corporate welfare out of student lending.”

Read the full editorial here, and then take action to tell Congress why we need to pass SAFRA now!

Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act Passes House Education Committee with Bipartisan Support

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

In a 30-17 vote, the House Education and Labor Committee passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA, HR 3221) today, making it likely that it will reach the full House within the week.

The bill would represent the largest investment in student aid in US history. By cutting wasteful subsidies to student loan companies, this legislation would save $87 billion over ten years that would be reinvested in increasing student aid, investing in college access and completion programs, supporting community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and minority serving institutions, and other programs that would increase educational opportunities for low and middle income families. It would also commit $10 billion to reducing the deficit.

There were several important changes to the bill, including: (more…)

Fact and Fiction about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

The House Committee on Education and Labor has put up a ton of information on their site about the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (or SAFRA as we like to call it around these parts.)

One of the most interesting and useful things on the website is a myth vs. fact crib sheet about student loans under the new plan. It debunks a lot of the misleading arguments that opponents of the bill are already using to try to bring Congress over to their side, and are sure to rely in the coming weeks and months as the debate heats up.

Be sure to check it out so you will be armed with the facts to defend the bill, and take action today to tell Congress why they should support this landmark legislation!