Blumenthal & Swalwell Introduce Legislation to Ease Burden of Student Loan Debt on Teachers, Police Officers, & Other Public Servants

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced the introduction of the Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Workers Act, legislation to amend the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to provide meaningful and timely student debt relief to teachers, police officers, public health workers, and others who dedicate their careers to public service.

“Our measure helps reduce the immense weight of student loan debt on our nation’s dedicated public servants,” said Blumenthal. “By expanding student loan forgiveness to the teachers, police officers, and public health workers who make sacrifices for our communities every day, the Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Workers Act repays a debt of gratitude to public servants across the country.”

“If we want the best and brightest serving our communities, we need to make public service a realistic, sustainable career—not a financial sacrifice,” said Swalwell. “Right now, too many teachers, police officers, public health workers, and other public servants are being forced to choose between serving their community and paying off crushing student debt. That’s unacceptable. The Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Workers Act will ensure public service is a pathway to opportunity, not a financial dead end. This bill expands and strengthens loan forgiveness so that the people we rely on every day can build a future for themselves while serving others. Supporting public servants isn’t charity, it’s an investment in our country.”

The Strengthening Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Workers Act amends PSLF and eliminates uncertainty for borrowers. The legislation allows borrowers to receive forgiveness for their loans in qualifying intervals, further incentivizing individuals to pursue careers in public service.

The legislation is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Ben Ray Luján (D-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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