News Releases

News Release | Higher Ed

New Consumer Finance Chief Can Lower Student Debt

Washington, D.C. – Today, President Obama is taking a bold step to protect student consumers from financial tricks and traps by announcing a recess appointment of his well-qualified nominee, Richard Cordray, to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB can improve private student loans as well as credit cards and debit cards issued on campus.

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News Release | The State PIRGs | Higher Ed

Students to Congress: Don’t Double Student Debt Rates

Washington, D.C. – With the student loan interest rate about to double this July for almost 8 million loan borrowers, WashPIRG Students and coalition partners deliver over 130,000 letters to Congress urging a different plan.

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News Release | Higher Ed

Senators Block Bill to Keep Student Loan Interest Rates From Doubling On July 1

“The bottom line is that this is important to future graduates and their families, it is a top concern among students, and has support from across the political spectrum."

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News Release | Student PIRGs | Consumer Protection, Higher Ed, Student Debt

Banks Skim Millions in Fees from Student Aid Using Debit-Card-Linked Student IDs

Washington, D.C. – Over 9 million students are at risk for increased educational debt, due to bank-affiliated student debit cards that come with high fees, insufficient consumer protections, and few options. Financial institutions now have affinity partnerships with almost 900 campuses nationwide, grafting bank products onto student IDs and other campus cards to become the primary recipient of billions in federal financial aid to distribute to students.

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News Release | WashPIRG | Transit

TRANSPORTATION BILL IS A STEP BACKWARDS

Statement by Phineas Baxandall, WashPIRG’s Senior Transportation Analyst, regarding the final Federal Transportation Bill as released today. The nation has been without a new transportation bill since the 2005 law expired in September 2009 and has been subject to nine temporary extensions.