NEA speaks up for the rights of students. Browse recent messages to Congressional leadership, and add your voice.
More careers than ever require post-secondary education, yet higher education is increasingly out of reach. Students and families—not public dollars—now fund the bulk of higher education costs.
For years, NEA members advocated canceling college debt to help fix educator shortages. In the last decade under NEA’s advocacy, student loans taken out by 48 million borrowers have been substantially reduced, forgiven, or even canceled outright. This includes more than 1 million public service workers who have received over $78 billion in student debt forgiveness thanks to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
NEA also supports dedicated faculty, staff, and graduate workers of our nation’s colleges and universities who help students pursue their passions. We advocate for safe working conditions, fair pay and benefits, academic freedom, increases to tenure density, and so much more.
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NEA urges representatives to VOTE NO on FY2025 budget resolution
Submitted on April 8, 2025
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NEA urges senators to VOTE NO on FY2025 budget resolution
Submitted on April 3, 2025
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Vote NO on confirming Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education
Submitted on February 25, 2025
Bills in Congress
Learn NEA's position on pending legislation related to public education, and take action to protect our schools
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Support
HR 2829 SERVICE Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on April 10, 2025
This bill would improve the PSLF program by shortening the time to forgiveness from 10 years to eight, increasing flexibility for borrowers to make qualifying payments, expanding deferment options in lieu of payments to count as qualifying monthly payments, and improving borrowers’ rights and transparency.
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Support
S 1220 Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on April 1, 2025
This bill creates a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan—which links payments to a borrower’s income and family size—to better protect borrowers from unaffordable payments, runaway balances due to rapidly accruing interest, and offer a clearer path to debt relief after at least a decade of payments. The bill codifies, expands, and strengthens the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan that President Biden introduced to help student loan borrowers nationwide in 2023.
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Support
S 994 Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of (PROTECT) Students Act www.congress.gov
Introduced on March 12, 2025
The bill aims to safeguard students from predatory for-profit colleges and ensure higher education meets the needs of hard-working students.
A History Advocating for Higher Education
Higher Education Act Becomes Law
Pell Grants Begin
Higher Education Act Reauthorization
GEAR UP Begins
PSLF Program Created
Higher Education Opportunity Act Enacted

PSLF Program Overhauled to Meet Educators' Needs
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