This written testimony focuses on three key areas of concern in support of HB 2588 to protect Oregonians from abusive practices by student education loan servicers: Oregon’s student loan debt crisis deepens the racial wealth gap and harms older Oregonians Abuses by student loan servicers prolong and deepen the student loan debt crisis, further increasing the racial wealth gap and harm to older Oregonians The federal rollback of existing protections bolsters need for state action Download the complete testimony. (PDF)
Student loans create debt burdens that impact families for generations. Black Americans in general, and Black and Latina women in particular -- often are forced to take on more college debt than their white counterparts in pursuit of the American Dream. The student debt burden is felt most acutely by attendees of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. CRL successfully led a coalition of advocates that achieved substantial student debt cancellation in 2022. We continue to advocate for higher education policies to protect student loan borrowers and their parents from falling into a cycle of debt that keeps them from engaging in wealth-building activities.
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The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) appreciates the opportunity to provide ideas on how to address racial disparities in student debt and the broader challenges faced by students of color in college and career training. We appreciate your commitment to addressing racial disparities in student debt and the broader challenges faced by students of color in college and career training. CRL stands firm in the belief that any legislation seeking to remedy the student debt crisis and disparities in higher education should focus on the outcomes for those who have been traditionally shut out of...
The Center for Responsible Lending1 (CRL) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on principles for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). We commend your dedication to reauthorizing the Higher Education Act with the intention of achieving an affordable, accountable, accessible and equitable and safer higher education system. We hope that you will continue to push for a Higher Education Reauthorization Act that holds true to the spirit of the original HEA, which sought to open the doors of higher education to all. CRL stands firm in the belief that any reauthorization...
This written testimony focuses on three key areas of concern: 1) abuses by student loan servicers prolong and deepen the problem of student loan debt; 2) For-profit schools disproportionately drive student loan debt nationally and in Colorado; and 3) the federal rollback of existing protections bolsters the need for state action. Download the full testimony. (PDF)
For-profit schools target students of color, low-income students, women, and veterans for enrollment, while failing to provide a quality education enabling students to obtain gainful employment. As is described below, New York for-profit students are more likely to have higher debt loads, lower graduation rates, and higher default rates than other students in the state. Consequently, an inordinate number of low-income students, students of color, and women in New York are left with large loans that they cannot repay and very little to no educational benefit in return. The state can and must...
The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on our priorities for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) . CRL applauds your initial efforts to tackle these policy reforms in H.R. 6543, The Aim Higher Act. We appreciate your dedication to create a bill that gets our country closer to providing a debt-free higher education for American students. We also appreciate your commitment to underrepresented students demonstrated in provide a more accessible higher education to traditionally underrepresented students by strengthening college...
Existing racial wealth gap increases burden of student loan debt on Black families and communities: This means families of color are more likely to need to borrow for higher education, will have less income with which to pay it, and have less of a cushion to withstand future financial shocks, thus contributing to a higher likelihood of delinquency and default on student loan debt. Today, nearly half of Black graduates owe more on their undergraduate student loan after four years than they did at graduation, compared to 17% of white graduates. Even a degree is no shield from racial disparities...
In the last decade, student loan debt has exploded, directly impacting the lives of millions of Americans and leaving its mark on the entire economy. There are currently over 44 million Americans with student loan debt. With the costs of higher education continuing to rise at alarming rates and a college education becoming a requirement for more and more jobs, millions more will soon be joining their ranks. Burdened by extraordinary student loan debt and stagnant wages, a generation of Americans are delaying or forgoing opportunities to build wealth, such as purchasing their first homes or...
The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) files this comment in response to the above referenced U.S. Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which rescinds the 2014 gainful employment (GE) regulations. CRL is deeply troubled by the Department’s decision to do away with these important accountability requirements that protect both the welfare of career training students and the taxpayer resources that support them. The Department has a strong role to play in ensuring that career training programs meet the expectations of enrolled students, who are seeking a better...
The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) files this comment in response to the above referenced U.S. Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which rescinds the 2014 gainful employment (GE) regulations. CRL is deeply troubled by the Department’s decision to do away with these important accountability requirements that protect both the welfare of career training students and the taxpayer resources that support them. The Department has a strong role to play in ensuring that career training programs meet the expectations of enrolled students, who are seeking a better...