Young Americans

As they pursue an education or enter the workforce in these hard economic times, young Americans are rightly wondering whether they’ll have the same opportunities to succeed as their parents’ generation. That’s why Democrats are working to help young Americans afford higher education and skills training, find well-paying jobs, and make the most of their talents. Democrats are defending these programs from Republicans’ proposed budget cuts and their efforts to roll back student loan protection programs. Democrats enacted the largest investment in student aid in its history, without increasing the deficit, by cutting out wasteful taxpayer subsidies to big banks and directing the money to increased and more affordable loans for students. We also helped make college more affordable by increasing Pell Grant awards to nearly $6,000. In addition, Democrats successfully fought to pass a G.I. bill for the 21st Century, which helps post-9/11 veterans attend college. Democrats understand how hard it is for many young Americans to afford health insurance. That’s why, under the Affordable Care Act, young Americans starting their careers will be able to stay covered on their parents’ health insurance plans until their 26th birthday, and innovators, both young and old, will be able to afford insurance if they start a new business. One of the most important issues for young people’s futures is fiscal responsibility. Every dollar we borrow today means more debt, and less opportunity, for the generations to come, which is why Democrats are fighting to put our country back on a path to a balanced budget. We restored the pay-as-you-go law, which requires Congress to find a dollar of savings for every dollar it spends, and which and helped create budget surpluses under President Clinton.
Young Americans Related
Hoyer Statement on House Resolution Condemning Newtown Shootings

By passing this resolution tonight, Congress sends a message to the people of Newtown:  you are not alone. The American people are mourning with you; we are standing beside you in this darkest of hours. And, in the days, weeks, and months ahead, we will begin the healing process with you. We remember the twenty children whose lives were tragically cut far too short. We honor the heroes at Sandy Hook Elementary who acted to save students' lives; and we recognize the first responders who reacted so swiftly.

Hoyer, Brady & Conyers Hold Student Voting Rights Summit Meeting

WASHINGTON—Today House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, House Administration Committee Ranking Member Bob Brady and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers convened a meeting of Members and representatives from youth, student, and voting organizations. The discussion focused on the escalating attempts to prevent students and young people from casting ballots this November. In state legislatures across the country, there has been a significant rise in laws designed to hinder access to the ballot for students, minorities, seniors and other groups. If nothing is done about these new restrictions, thousands of those eligible young voters will be turned away from the polls.

Hoyer Statement on Highway and Student Loan Conference Report

“Today the House passed a conference report that will give certainty to millions of students and that will pave the way for jobs and economic growth.  This should have been done weeks ago, but instead Republicans took us to the brink of seeing the highway bill expire and student loan interest rates double. 

Republicans Continue to Ignore Critical Job Creation Legislation
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

Today we concluded another week under this “do-nothing” Republican Congress with no action on critical legislation.  Once again, House Republicans refused to take up comprehensive legislation that would create jobs or restore certainty to our economy.  They are now heading home for their ninth recess, despite calls from Democrats urging the House of Representatives to stay in session to address critical legislation.&

GOP Summer Agenda Obstructs Job Creation, Hurts Middle Class Families

As our economy continues its recovery, House Republicans have rolled out a summer agenda that ignores job creation and does not address a number of critical items. Two items expire at the end of this month: a surface transportation reauthorization bill – which the Senate passed with an overwhelming bipartisan vote – and legislation to stop student loan interest rates from doubling on July 1. House Republicans are also holding an extension of the middle class tax cuts hostage to tax cuts for the wealthy, despite the need for families to have certainty that their taxes will not increase next year.

Another Look at House Republicans' Wrong Priorities

Here’s what House Republicans AREN’T doing this week – focusing on jobs and preventing student loan interest rates from doubling:

Hoyer Statement on Republicans' Student Loan Bill

House Republicans are reversing course after clearly feeling pressure to take action to maintain student loan interest rates at 3.4 percent for another year. However, I believe there are ways we could do so without eliminating important public health funding, such as ending unnecessary subsidies for big oil companies making record profits.

Democrats Committed to Preventing Interest Rate Increases on Student Loans

Today, President Obama reiterated Democrats’ commitment to ensuring more Americans get a fair shot at an affordable college education and called on Congress to prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling. On July 1, the interest rates on subsidized Stafford student loans are slated to double from 3.4% to 6.8%, and if Congress fails to take action, millions of students will be affected.

House Republicans Continue to Target Seniors, Middle Class, Most Vulnerable in Extreme Budget

This week, Republicans will continue to outline additional details of their extreme budget that ends the Medicare guarantee, destroys jobs, and cuts taxes for the wealthy. In Committee hearings this week, Republicans are expected to lay out cuts that undermine health care coverage and target our federal employees in order to preserve tax cuts for the wealthy.

Republicans Roll Out Cuts That Target Most Vulnerable, Put Economy at Risk

This week, Republicans are rolling out more specific details of their extreme budget that ends the Medicare guarantee, destroys jobs, and cuts taxes for the wealthy.  Committees are holding hearings on the specific spending cuts to critical programs that Republicans want to make in order to keep funding tax cuts for the wealthy.