House Dems Push Student Loan Forgiveness for Healthcare Workers

House Democrats want to eliminate student debt for frontline healthcare workers responding to the coronavirus outbreak. 

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., introduced the bill on Tuesday, The Hill reports. 

The Student Debt Forgiveness for Frontline Health Care Workers Act, cosigned by nine other House Democrats, advocates for the creation of a federal and private loan forgiveness program. All medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, medical residents, interns and technicians would be eligible to have their student loans wiped out. 

“Frontline health workers are delivering care to the sickest patients and putting their own safety at great risk in order to keep doing their jobs,” Maloney said in a statement. “And in return, I believe that we have an obligation to ensure that they are relieved of the debt they incurred to train for this critical work — in graduate degree programs or other professional certification. Health care workers are worrying about their own health and how it will affect their families. They should not have to worry about their financial security after the crisis has passed. That is a burden that we can lift right now. And this bill will do that. It will help take care of the people taking care of all of us.”

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