Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced legislation that would forgive the 1.6 trillion dollars of student loan debt faced by over 45 million Americans.
During the announcement, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez to point out that inflated student loan debt has created a crisis for Americans as old as their 30's, whose lives are stalled due to economic hindrance.
Ocasio-Cortez confessed that even she is still stuck with student loan debt.
"I will disclose my personal stake in this fight, because I have student loans too, and I think it's so funny: a year ago, I was waiting tables in a restaurant, and it was literally easier for me to become the youngest woman in American history elected to Congress than it is to pay off my student loan debt...I don't think that that is the bar through which a person should be able to access education, healthcare, and a bevy of other things that should be considered human rights."
This speaks volumes because Ocasio-Cortez's election was no easy feat—especially in the primary. The freshman Congresswoman defeated 13-time incumbent Joe Crowley to clench the Democratic nomination to represent New York's 14th District.
Americans everywhere applauded Ocasio-Cortez's strong statement.
Bravo.
