Dear Friends, Dedicated public servants exist in every corner of our communities. From postal workers and public defenders to librarians and teachers, these hard-working individuals ensure our government services run smoothly and effectively to meet the needs of our families and neighbors.  Last week, the Department of Education announced they have forgiven hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans for public servants in our community. These are a result of the Biden-Harris administration’s limited waiver opportunity making Public Service Loan Forgiveness more flexible and accessible.   Under the new, temporary rules, any prior period of repayment will count as a qualifying payment, regardless of loan program, repayment plan, or whether the payment was made in full or on time. You continue to need qualifying employment. This change will apply to student loan borrowers with Direct Loans, those who have already consolidated into the Direct Loan Program, and those with other types of federal loans who consolidate into the Direct Loan Program by Oct. 31, 2022. If your loans are already consolidated and you have an open application for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, your account will automatically be reviewed between now and May 2022.   If you, or someone you know, has worked full-time in a public service capacity you may benefit from this limited waiver opportunity. I encourage you to see if you qualify for additional payments by visiting the Department of Education’s limited waiver opportunity page, linked here. If you have any trouble, call my Portland office and one of my caseworkers will be happy to help guide you.While I am pleased that our dedicated public servants have the opportunity for loan forgiveness, this announcement comes at a time when over 43 million Americans are burdened by student debt. I will continue to fight to make college more affordable and work to address the student loan crisis for all.