Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

We all want and we all deserve the basics in life: a steady job that pays a living wage and helps us save for retirement, good health care, a nice home, and a great education for ourselves and for our kids.

But in America today, equality of opportunity isn't a reality -- and in so many ways that inequality starts in our educational system.

To improve the quality of primary and secondary education, I support increasing teacher pay and breaking the link between a community's wealth and the funding available for its public schools.

When discussing higher education, the national political debate tends to focus on four-year college degrees. We need greater emphasis on vocational training. For someone currently making $10 an hour without benefits, a commercial driver's license or a welding certificate can be life-changing.

That's why in the Senate I'll work to make trade school and vocational training free for every American.

And I'll work to make four-year degrees at our public colleges 100% debt-free.

So many Americans today are held back by student debt -- can't start a business, start a family, or buy a home -- because they can't keep up with student loan payments.

But the cost of education shouldn't hold us back. Education should expand our opportunities.

I support a generous forgiveness program for those struggling to pay off their student loans, caps on interest rates to relieve financial stress for all borrowers, and a program that links Federal student loan payments to income so paying off student loans is never a financial hardship.

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