By The Star Staff
Pablo José Hernández Rivera, the Popular Democratic Party candidate for resident commissioner, presented his proposals on Sunday to reduce student debt in Puerto Rico.
The proposals include increasing the Pell grant and adjusting it to inflation, allowing Medicaid beneficiaries to automatically qualify for the Pell grant, and extending the use of the grant to graduate studies. Hernández Rivera also proposes reducing the payments required for debt forgiveness in the public service program and eliminating the requirement of employment in public service at the time of forgiveness.
Hernández Rivera plans to reintroduce or co-sponsor bills such as the Loan and Assistance Opportunity Act, the Pell to Grad Act, and the Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act. Those bills would increase the Pell grant to $14,000 and extend its availability from 12 to 18 semesters, as well as reduce the term of payments required for public service debt forgiveness from 120 to 96 months.
In Puerto Rico, more than 294,000 people owe more than $10.39 billion in student loans, with an average of $35,400 per person. The candidate stressed that his campaign focuses on youth and economic development.
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