Education

2024 FAFSA Resource Guide

| Posted in Newsletters
Tags: Education

Dear Neighbor, Attaining a college degree is expensive and many students struggle to pay for higher education. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is the first step for students to get federal financial aid to help pay for college. Universities and career schools use the FAFSA form to determine how much financial aid students are eligible to receive, and students…

Building on Her Report Investigating Student Loan Servicers, Rep. Porter Reintroduces Legislation to Boost Accountability

| Posted in Press Releases

Following a report Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) recently released on conflicting priorities in the student loan servicing industry, Porter and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) reintroduced their bill to boost transparency, oversight, and accountability of student loan servicers. The CFPB Student Loan Integrity and Transparency Act would direct both the Consumer Financial…

Rep. Porter Urges Permanent Support for Every Kid Outdoors Program

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Reps. Katie Porter (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced the Every Kid Outdoors Act to permanently authorize the special program that enables fourth graders and their families to visit national parks for free. In addition, their legislation would expand the Every Kid Outdoors program to include all fourth and fifth grade students, making it easier for…

Business Insider: Student-loan borrowers lack ‘effective check’ over servicers: Porter

| Posted in In the News
Tags: Education

A Democratic lawmaker thinks President Joe Biden's Education Department should be doing more to protect student-loan borrowers as they manage repayment. On Thursday, Rep. Katie Porter released a report — called Checks and Balances in the Federal Student Loan System — which claims the Education Department has a "conflict of interest" in the federal student-loan system due to its…

Newsweek: Student Loan Forgiveness Update: Hack Could Save You Thousands in Payments

| Posted in In the News
Tags: Education

For the thousands of borrowers who will have to start paying back their student loans again next month, Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California has a tip that will help them soften the likely blow to their personal finances. Student loan payments were first paused by then-President Donald Trump in March 2020 as a relief measure for struggling borrowers during the pandemic. The break…

Student Loan Payments Restarting - What You Need to Know

| Posted in Newsletters
Tags: Education

Dear Friend, Student loan interest will resume on September 1, 2023, and payments will be due starting in October. About 3.8 million Californians owe over $142 billion in student loan debt. This message provides you with information to prepare for the return to repayment. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Department of Education suspended payments on student loans,…

Tackling the Mental Health Crisis on College Campuses

| Posted in Newsletters

Dear Friend, When you have a physical health problem, you go to a doctor for treatment. Mental health is no different. Just like physical illness, mental illness can be far reaching and require medication and other medical treatment.  Young people across the country are experiencing a mental health crisis, with reports of up to 44% of college students suffering from depression and…

Rep. Porter Introduces Bills Expanding Free Meals for Students

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Representative Katie Porter (D-CA) introduced two bills to strengthen free meal programs for students across the country. The No Hungry Kids in Schools Act, co-led by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), would allow states to provide free meals to all schools in eligible districts, saving families money and reducing the time parents and individual schools spend dealing with…

Rep. Katie Porter Introduces Bill to Provide Nutritious Food to More Students

| Posted in Press Releases

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA) has introduced legislation to expand a federal program that helps schools provide no-cost meals to students without forcing parents to spend hours filling out paperwork. The No Hungry Kids in Schools Act, which is co-led by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA), will save families money and reduce the time-consuming and expensive…

Rep. Katie Porter Renews Legislative Push to Better Protect Student Borrowers

| Posted in Press Releases
Tags: Education

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA) today reintroduced a slate of bills to boost accountability in higher education. The CFPB Student Loan Integrity and Transparency Act, co-led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), would restore critical oversight powers to the top government official responsible for assisting student borrowers, while the Accountability in…