Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA), along with Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), reintroduced legislation to protect the rights of students struggling with mental health challenges. The Student Mental Health Rights Act would require the Secretary of Education to study student mental health and campus policies and, in consultation with the… Read more »

Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45), alongside Congresswomen Susie Lee (NV-03) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05), relaunched the College Affordability Caucus. The group spearheads policies that will drive down the sticker price of higher education.  In relaunching the caucus, Porter hosted a briefing with members and Caitlin Zaloom, an expert on the financial challenges that students and… Read more »

U.S. Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) and U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (CA) today blasted the Trump Administration for failing to communicate a plan to school districts on how to reopen safely ahead of the upcoming academic year. The two demanded that the Administration develop clear and concise standards that include the input of health experts, teachers, parents, and students to help… Read more »

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today introduced bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03), Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) that would expand the reach of the student borrower protections included in the CARES Act. The COVID–19 Perkins Loan Relief Act would allow the nearly 2… Read more »

WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) has introduced legislation that would crack down on predatory for-profit universities. Porter’s bill empowers federal watchdogs to investigate fraudulent schools that cheat students when those institutions face financial downturns, as Western State College of Law did earlier this year. “It’s unacceptable that scam artists have free license to… Read more »

Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today introduced legislation to protect students struggling with mental health challenges. The Student Mental Health Rights Act would ensure that mental health policies on college campuses are consistent with existing federal guidelines. “Too many students across the country who face mental health challenges find themselves dealing with an additional… Read more »

Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) has introduced legislation that would improve reporting requirements for universities on the number of their graduates who can’t repay their student loans. Under the current system, institutions can artificially deflate the number of individuals who default on their loans and escape accountability. “If a large number of school’s graduates can’t repay… Read more »

Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) and Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Chairman of the Government Operations subcommittee, today demanded answers from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos following a recent report that the Department, under her leadership, has denied 99 percent of public service workers the debt relief that they earned. Porter was joined in her request by 46 House… Read more »

Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today led 18 of her House colleagues to call on the U.S. Department of Education not to withhold federal student aid from Californians receiving online education offered by out-of-state institutions. The Department had previously threatened to pull aid from California students, but the state proposed a new plan to comply with the Department’s newly… Read more »

Congresswoman Katie Porter (CA-45) today joined Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-6) and other freshmen colleagues to introduce legislation to make permanent a student loan forgiveness program for borrowers who were defrauded or misled by their schools. The Relief for Defrauded Students Act of 2019 would support these protections for students, as the Department of Education under Betsy DeVos has… Read more »