Compared with regular prices, college tuition has gone up far higher and far faster over the past decades. That especially matters here in Virginia's 10th district because over half of the people here have at least a college degree, and many have advanced degrees. Do you want your children to be saddled with enormous debts after they graduate?
A main reason for tuition inflation is what the colleges think they can get away with charging. And they can charge a lot, because they know federal student loans are available for anyone. It's time to use these loans to get the colleges to rein in their costs.
In keeping with my campaign slogan "Let's Get Things Done," I will introduce a bill to prohibit any college or university from accepting student loans unless they hold yearly tuition to the average inflation rate. They must also demonstrate that graduates are able to get gainful employment, or else lose access to federal loans.
Vocational training covers the essentials of day to day life, such as plumbing, electricity, carpentry, and other practical knowledge. Too often the impression is given that these jobs are not as worthy as white collar jobs, and that's wrong. For one thing, they often pay as well or better as a white collar job. Secondly, they are much more secure from being eliminated. So I believe it should be mandatory for high school students to take courses in these areas. This will expose more people to professions they might not otherwise learn about, and they might end up finding their calling. It will also help bridge the gap between white and blue collar professions, and remind everyone that our society values all workers equally.
I am sympathetic towards President Biden's loan forgiveness plan, but I think it's flawed because it doesn't include a tax on the worst actors, namely the for-profit schools that took students' loan money and sold them an inferior education that is mostly useless. I would introduce a bill to tax them and claw back some of their ill-gotten gains. The federal government has some responsibility for inflating this mess, so it's only right that it should help alleviate the problems.
Northern Virginia has some of the best schools in the country. We need to make sure they continue to perform at a high level. As your Representative, I can help ensure that by making sure the 10th district receives full funding for its schools and programs.
I have always been extremely sympathetic towards trans people. I recall in law school working with a member of a trans civil rights group, who would say, "We're still too hated to be in the hate crimes bill." Things have improved since then, but I will make sure that all trans students in the community are treated with the dignity and respect they are entitled to under the civil rights laws, just like everyone else.
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