‘Virtual Hill Day’ invites Utahns to contact Congress to vote against proposal to nationalize student loan program

April 21, 2009
Contact: Spencer Jenkins (801-321-7110), Michael Nemelka (801-366-8410)

When: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
What: ‘Virtual Hill Day’ to Keep Student Loans Local
Who: Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority

SALT LAKE CITY - Congress has reconvened this week with the President's budget proposal at the top of the agenda. 'Virtual Hill Day', April 22, 2009 is a national call-in campaign to encourage members of Congress to oppose the proposed elimination of the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL).

FFEL enables states to locally service student loans. For more than 30 years, the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA) has administered Utah’s student loan guarantee program as well as provide critical outreach and support to Utah Students. By keeping the servicing of those loans local through FFEL, students and families get better service at a lower cost to finance a higher education.

"UHEAA has established a grassroots campaign to encourage Utahns to tell key lawmakers and elected officials to 'keep student loans local."' said Dave Feitz, Executive Director, “We continue to work very hard to keep the administration of the student loan program at the local level."

The elimination of FFEL would jeopardize the future of UHEAA and its ability to continue its crucial services to the state’s college students.

More info: www.keepstudentloanslocal.org
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNLCX8Cite8

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