Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made the point that the issue of student debt is everyone's problem by making her own student ...
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made the point that the issue of student debt is everyone's problem by making her own student loan payment during a congressional hearing on Tuesday.
Ocasio-Cortez opened her remarks by telling her audience that she had made a payment while attending the House Financial Services Committee hearing on student debt.
'I literally made a student loan payment while I was sitting here at this chair, and I looked at my balance, and it was $20,237.16,' Ocasio-Cortez said while holding up her notepad.
'I just made a payment that took me down to $19,000 so I feel really accomplished right now,' she added.
She then took aim at Republicans on the committee.
'I’m hearing people on this committee say it’s not our job,' Ocasio-Cortez said, referring to the Republicans' testimony during the hearing.
'This is our job,' she stated.
Ironically, Roll Call reported in March that 68 members of Congress reported that either they or their family members are swimming in student debt.
A breakdown of those numbers show that 44 Democrats and 24 Republicans have higher education liabilities of $2.5million.
The median student loan debt is $15,000, while average debt is $37,000.
According to Roll Call, eight members of Congress have student loan debt of $100,000. And all 68 have obligations of at least $10,000.
Members of Congress discussed ways to address the nation's estimated $1.5trillion in student debt.
Consumer advocates and experts also testified during the meeting.