09.30.2015

Murray Statement on Senate Failing to Extend Perkins Loan Program Hours Before it Expires

Perkins Loan Program helped 15,000 Washington state students last school year

(Washington, D.C.) – Hours before the Perkins Loan Program is set to expire, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to move forward on a bipartisan one-year extension of the program. A bill to extend the program, which provides low-interest loans to help students with financial need pay for postsecondary education, passed the House of Representatives this week, but the bipartisan effort to extend the program was blocked in the Senate. In Washington state, more than 15,000 students received Perkins Loans last year, but without an extension new students would not have access to that financial aid option.

“In Congress, we should be doing everything we can to provide students with more support to manage college costs, not less, so I am extremely disappointed that the Senate has not acted to extend the Perkins Loan Program.” said Senator Murray. “For many students, including 15,000 in Washington state last year, Perkins Loans have been a critical tool, providing a low-cost, flexible option to help pay for college. It is unfortunate that new students could face uncertainty this year by letting this program lapse. As we work in Congress to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, I’m going to be fighting to help more students gain a foothold into the middle class, and to ensure students have the financial aid tools they need.”

Yesterday, Senator Murray delivered remarks on the Senate floor, urging an extension of the program.

Breakdown of students in Washington state receiving Perkins Loans:

School	State	Zip Code	School Type	Recipients	Disbursements
University of Washington - Seattle	WA	98195-1122	Public	4,698	$ 10,379,139.00
Washington State University	WA	99164-1035	Public	2,689	$ 2,643,975.00
Gonzaga University	WA	99258-0083	Private/Non-Profit	909	$ 2,560,011.00
Pacific Lutheran University	WA	98447-0003	Private/Non-Profit	896	$ 2,256,404.00
Western Washington University	WA	98225-5946	Public	845	$ 1,417,205.00
University of Puget Sound	WA	98416-0001	Private/Non-Profit	731	$ 1,203,767.00
Seattle Pacific University	WA	98119-1997	Private/Non-Profit	703	$ 1,158,156.00
Central Washington University	WA	98926-7501	Public	541	$ 1,089,362.00
Eastern Washington University	WA	99004-2444	Public	589	$ 982,262.00
Evergreen State College (The)	WA	98505-0002	Public	639	$ 869,540.00
Seattle University	WA	98122-1090	Private/Non-Profit	516	$ 778,685.00
Whitworth University	WA	99251-0001	Private/Non-Profit	477	$ 711,259.00
Whitman College	WA	99362-2067	Private/Non-Profit	215	$ 536,250.00
Walla Walla University	WA	99324-1198	Private/Non-Profit	187	$ 359,797.00
Cornish College of the Arts	WA	98121-4604	Private/Non-Profit	93	$ 300,000.00
Northwest University	WA	98033-7523	Private/Non-Profit	93	$ 255,364.00
Saint Martin's University	WA	98503-7500	Private/Non-Profit	93	$ 150,428.00
Walla Walla Community College	WA	99362-9267	Public	58	$ 149,808.00
Art Institute of Seattle (The)	WA	98121-1622	Proprietary	54	$ 147,484.00
Heritage University	WA	98948-9562	Private/Non-Profit	53	$ 142,897.00
Perry Technical Institute	WA	98903-1239	Private/Non-Profit	51	$ 139,750.00
Bastyr University	WA	98028-4966	Private/Non-Profit	39	$ 120,000.00
Big Bend Community College	WA	98837-3299	Public	31	$ 82,750.00
North Seattle College	WA	98103-3599	Public	9	$ 33,710.00
Total	15,209	$ 28,468,003.00