(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) introduced the Pay Down, Upskill Act, legislation that would direct the U.S. Department of Education to provide eligible individuals with a one-time education credit of $10,000 to be used to pay down undergraduate student loan debt or to be used as a credit toward the pursuit of additional education or workforce training.

“Student loans are supposed to help people reach their career goals,” said Lamb.  “Instead, it has burdened too many borrowers with unsustainable amounts of debt, while the cost of higher education is increasingly out of reach for too many.  This bill will help reduce student debt loads while at the same time helping more Americans access the education that leads to good jobs.”

Credits from the Pay Down, Upskill Act would be available to American adults making less than $75,000, based on the same eligibility criteria used for the previous COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments (EIP).  For students interested in pursuing additional education or training, the credit would be eligible at public and non-profit institutions of higher education, as well as for certain certificate programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Studies have indicated that individuals with student loan debt are struggling to pay off the debt and are less likely than debt-free peers to buy homes, start families or save for retirement.

The Pay Down, Upskill Act is endorsed by Third Way.

Visit Lamb’s website for more information on the Pay Down, Upskill Act.

(AP PHOTO)
By AMANDA SEITZ and HANNAH FINGERHUT Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly all Americans agree that the rampant spread of misinformation is a problem. Most also think individual users, along with social media companies, bear a good deal of blame for the situation. But relatively few are very concerned that they themselves might be responsible. That’s according to a new poll from The Pearson Institute and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Ninety-five percent of Americans identified misinformation as a problem. About half put a great deal of blame on the U.S. government, and about three-quarters point to social media users and tech companies. Only 2 in 10 Americans say they’re very concerned that they have personally spread misinformation, though about 3 in 10 say they’re somewhat concerned.