For generations, we’ve told young Americans that a good education is the ticket to the middle class. But for more and more Americans, that dream has been pushed out of reach because of the sky-high cost of a college education and crushing burden of college debt. Chuck Schumer is committed to increasing access to quality education starting with our youngest children, and ending the college affordability crisis so a college degree doesn’t leave students in debt for decades. Schumer delivered a record billions of dollars in education aid during covid to help our entire education system weather, and then recover from, the covid epidemic.
Leading the Fight to Cancel Student Debt
Chuck Schumer is one of the most outspoken proponents of student debt relief – and worked with Senator Elizabeth Warren to lead the efforts to push Joe Biden to cancel student debt.
More than 40 million Americans have student loan debt. It is a terrible burden that holds people back from going to college, buying a home or starting a business for the first time. Student debt also disproportionately impacts people of color. On average, black college graduates owe a staggering $25,000 more in student loan debt than white graduates.
Canceling student debt is one of the most effective ways to provide immediate financial relief to millions of Americans, close the racial wealth gap, and help build long-term economic opportunity.
In addition to leading the fight to cancel student debt, Schumer has long pushed to make college more affordable and help families keep up with the ever-increasing cost of a college education. He helped extend the Perkins loan program, greatly increased funding for Pell Grants, and created tax credits for students.
Early Childhood Education and Care
Studies show that the earlier children have access to a quality education, the more successful they’ll be when they’re older. That’s why Chuck Schumer has championed funding for early childhood education through programs like Head Start, which provides support for early education, social, emotional and nutritional health, social services and services for children with disabilities.
Chuck also expanded the child tax credit as part of the American Rescue Plan, which provides families with up to $3,600 per child. This policy radically reduced the child poverty rate and boosted families’ incomes. These policies have demonstrated positive impacts on children’s future educational attainment.