JUNEAU – Yesterday, Representative Les Gara (D-Anchorage) announced that the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) has endorsed a bill (HB17) by House Democratic legislators to lower the cost of student loans for students who put their skills to work in Alaska.

“I am writing in support of House Bill 17 (HB0017a), which would provide for a reduction of the principal of postsecondary education loans for Alaska residents. As UAA’s chancellor, one of my priorities is removing the roadblocks that stand in the way of our students’ success. A major obstacle our students face today is financing a college education…Getting students through college on time and with less debt is good for Alaska’s economy and for Alaskans,” said UAA Chancellor Tom Case in a letter to Rep. Gara.

“Alaska Student Loan Corporation loans have been at seven percent and above in recent years when you can get a used car loan for less than three percent,” said Rep. Gara. “That people who want to better their job prospects through college education or job training have to pay twice the rate of a used car loan seems wrong.”

Rep. Gara thanked the chancellor for his support on behalf of the other House Democratic legislators who are sponsoring the legislation. All members of the House Democratic Caucus have signed on as sponsors of the legislation including Representative Harriet Drummond Anchorage), Representative David Guttenberg (Fairbanks), Representative Scott Kawasaki (Fairbanks), Representative Beth Kerttula (Juneau), Representative Chris Tuck (Anchorage),Representative Geran Tarr (Anchorage), Representative Andy Josephson (Anchorage),Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (Southeast), Representative Max Gruenberg (Anchorage).

Read Chancellor Case’s letter: https://akdemocrats.org/gara/021813_HB17_Gara.pdf