(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) joined her Senate Democratic colleagues to share ideas on college affordability and the student debt crisis. The Senators heard from students, teachers, and advocates about the impact of debt on students’ personal and career choices and the impact on economic growth of an entire generation stuck being in the red.
“Making college more affordable and reducing the crushing burden of student debt is so important for students and families in Washington state, which is why I am going to keep fighting to make progress on this critical issue,” Senator Murray said. “My siblings and I were able to go to college because of federal loans and grants, and I want to make sure that students today have the same opportunities we had to join the middle class.”
More than 41 million Americans owe a total of $1.3 trillion in outstanding student loan debt, more than credit cards or auto loans. In Washington state, the average college graduate owes $24,804, up from $17,415 ten years ago, according to the Institute for College Access & Success. In the Senate, Murray is working on ways to reduce college costs and student debt to help grow the economy from the middle out, not the top down, and throughout her work, she is committed to making sure families have a voice at the table in Congress.
Last week, Senator Murray launched a new tool on her website to hear from students and families on the critical importance of making college more affordable. The tool will enable people across the country to share their story and struggles to afford higher education and manage student debt payments. Visit the College Affordability page to share your story here.
English 
Spanish