In a progressive push-back to the Trump administration's right-wing agenda--and amid rising inequality--Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Monday unveiled their legislative plan for tuition-free public colleges to lift the burden of "crushing debt."
In a Facebook post, Jayapal said the College for All legislation was necessary "to give our young people a future, reduce wealth inequality, and grow our economy."
At an afternoon press conference introducing their proposal--which is also backed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.)--Jayapal said, "This bill is not rocket science," and reiterated Warren's comment that "it's ridiculous that we're profiting off of student loans."
"I like to say that this bill creates a new normal. There's nothing normal about graduating with massive student debt," she added.
Funded by the so-called Robin Hood Tax, the legislation would make community college free for all students, and would make public colleges and universities free for students of families who make up to $125,000 a year. It is similar to legislation unveiled by Sanders and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in that state earlier this year.
Watch the press conference below:
In a series of tweets Jayapal, Sanders, and College for All supporters outlined how the legislation would work and why it's so necessary:
See these and more tweets from Twitter users using the hashtag #CollegeForAll: