New bill would give essential workers $25K for tuition, student loans

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As Congress eyes the next phase of coronavirus relief, some lawmakers want to help pay frontline workers’ student loans or higher education costs.

“Grocery clerks didn't take that job at relatively modest wages thinking they were saving the world,” said Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH) in an interview with Yahoo Finance.  

A new bill introduced this week would give essential workers $25,000 in student debt relief— or for college tuition or costs of a workforce development or continuing education program. Kuster and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Opportunities for Heroes Act on Tuesday. The bill has several other Democratic cosponsors, but Fitzpatrick is the only Republican on board so far.

If the bill were to become law, the Secretary of Labor would establish a new commission to determine which workers are deemed essential and eligible for the $25,000. Some of the positions the bill specifically mentions include healthcare workers, first responders, pharmacy workers, grocery store workers and postal workers.

“It’s hard to envision literally every type of essential worker,” said Kuster. “We want it to be inclusive. We want to make sure that people are recognized even if the role they played is more obscure.”

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