Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined a group of Senators in introducing a bill to re-establish access to federal student aid after Congressional Republicans and President Trump’s “Big, Ugly Betrayal” law imposed burdensome provisions that restricted access to affordable higher education.
The Restoring College Access and Affordability Act reinstates student loan programs and borrower protections, making higher education more affordable and accessible to Americans.
“The ‘Big, Ugly Betrayal’ is the hallmark of the Trump Administration’s ‘families lose, billionaires win’ agenda—savaging programs families rely on and increasing tax giveaways for Trump’s billionaire friends,” said Merkley. “This critical legislation will restore the college access programs that open the doors of opportunity to good-paying jobs.”
The Republican “Big, Ugly Betrayal” law undermines affordability and equity in higher education—eliminating loan programs, weakening borrower protections, and threatening institutional stability. The Restoring College Access and Affordability Act better serves American students by combatting the Trump Administration’s attacks on higher education and restoring fairness, flexibility, and accountability, re-establishing critical loan programs and protecting loan borrowers from predatory practices.
The Restoring College Access and Affordability Act is supported by a number of organizations, including Protect Borrowers, American Federation of Teachers, The Institute for College Access and Success, National Consumer Law Center, National Association for College Admission Counseling, and Student Debt Center.
The bill was led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).
Full text of the bill can be found by clicking here, and a one-pager on the bill can be found by clicking here.
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