Student loan relief for essential workers?

Citizens Count

FILE - In this April 3, 2019, file photo a tip box is filled with U.S. currency in New York. Refinancing can pay off your existing student loans, replacing them with a new loan with new terms and a single payment. Some private refinance lenders allo…

FILE - In this April 3, 2019, file photo a tip box is filled with U.S. currency in New York. Refinancing can pay off your existing student loans, replacing them with a new loan with new terms and a single payment. Some private refinance lenders allow you to consolidate your loans with your spouse’s or co-sign a loan for him or her. This may benefit you if you wouldn’t qualify for refinancing on your own. But combining or co-signing loans puts you on the hook for the entire debt. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Rep. Annie Kuster is sponsoring legislation to provide $25,000 in student debt relief or tuition assistance for essential workers.

The “Opportunities for Heroes Act” would benefit employees from grocery stores to fire stations.

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Dan Feltes has made a similar proposal to offer frontline workers two years of free tuition at New Hampshire community colleges and universities.

The Opportunities for Heroes Act

Rep. Kuster’s bill, the Opportunities for Heroes Act, would provide $25,000 toward either student loans or tuition. The bill creates a commission to determine which employees are eligible for the benefit, but the bill also lists some employees that are guaranteed eligibility.

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