My father was a laborer. He worked in the fields, on the railroads and in the factories doing grueling and dangerous manual labor so that I could be the first member of my family to go to college.
You’re reading this column in a college newspaper, so maybe you, too, owe your chance to someone in your family. Or perhaps you’re the one working nights and weekends to put yourself through school, or taking out loans.
As we celebrate Labor Day, I’ll be thinking about my father — and the sacrifices our families make to help us realize our full potential.
Higher education is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. The unemployment rate for Americans with a college degree is half the national average, but it has also never been more expensive.
The average college student who borrows today will graduate with $26,000 in school debt.
We all understand that this country is still fighting back from the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes. But President Obama rejects the argument that we can afford to cut higher education —and shortchange our future.
America has always made a commitment to put a good education within reach.
It’s baffling to me to see partisan calls for cuts in higher education. Some politicians are backing a plan to reduce investments by almost 20 percent. That would deny a college education to one million students and slash financial aid for 10 million more.
Earlier this year, President Obama fought to make sure the interest rate on federal student loans didn’t increase. We set up a new college tax credit to help more middle class families save up to $10,000 on their tuition over four years. We won those fights. The Obama administration has helped more than 3.6 million additional students obtain Pell grants and is fighting to double work-study jobs.
This Labor Day, we should all join the debate on college affordability.
Our fathers worked hard to give us a chance to achieve whatever our talents would allow. Let’s pay it forward, so more members of our American family get their shot, too.
Hilda Solis
U.S. Secretary of Labor
Hilda Solis can be reached at talktosolis@dol.gov
