Armand Biroonak

Government in many instances can do it better. Student loan reform –that awaits passage through reconciliation –will end tens of billions in wasteful bank subsidies and give much of the savings to students (via Pell Grants). How?

Something so simple, so easy: end tens of billions of dollars in bank subsidies to the private lending industry and return much of the savings back into the hand of students, with the Department of Education providing loans to students directly. A no-brainer right? Well reform may be a no-go, if six Senate Democrats have their way.

If some members of Congress are going to stand with banks, instead of students, then why not pass student loan reform through reconciliation? Just like Americans and health care reform –students need relief now. It is time for Congress to act on behalf of students, and not banks.

The Department of Labor’s employment data released this morning indicates that we are continuing to lose jobs, 36,000 in February alone, although at a much slower pace than this time last year.

As Congress returns to Washington, the Campaign for America’s Future calls on the Senate to finish what the House started, and pass Student Loan reform to end billion dollar bank subsidies and invest in students.

President Obama’s State of the Union outlined a renewed commitment to job creation and focused on investing in the American people once more. For his initiatives to be successful however, the Administration and Congress must greatly invest in worker training if Americans are going to gain the skills needed to take advantage of emerging job opportunities.

The effects of the recession have been far reaching –that is no secret of course –but the picture for students in this downturn is only beginning to be painted more clearly. According to the Higher Education Research Institute’s annual survey of college freshman, students are really feeling the financial squeeze unlike ever before.

Similar to Iraq, the use of contractors by the U.S. government in Afghanistan stands at unprecedented levels. In fact, contractors in Afghanistan outnumber American troops –and will continue to do so despite Obama’s troop increase in 2010.