Straight Talk With Sam - Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

Volume 4, Issue 35, August 30, 2004

STRAIGHT TALK WITH SAM

Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

It is difficult to find a more important job than being a teacher. After all, a good teacher can inspire children to find their passion in life and go after it. Presidents, emergency workers, doctors, store clerks and others all have their beginnings in a classroom where they grew up.

However, most of these teachers have to invest a lot of money to master the skills necessary for teaching our youth. Given low teacher salaries, it can take several years before a teacher ever pays off his or her student loans.

If these teachers invest in the education of America's future, then they deserve a return on their investment. Teacher loan forgiveness is something I have fought for since my days in the Missouri legislature. I succeeded in providing historic teacher loan forgiveness while serving in the Missouri Legislature more than five years ago, and I am determined to succeed today.

Last year, I led the fight for teacher loan forgiveness in the House. The House passed legislation that would increase federal student loan forgiveness from $5,000 to $17,500 for many teachers who teach in Title I schools.

The passage of that legislation was one of my proudest moments in Congress. Teachers who dedicate much of their careers to teaching our children deserve financial relief. We all owe a debt of gratitude to teachers for what they do. Helping teachers pay off their student loan debt is just one way we can help them for the priceless job they do for our children.