Demand Equitable Access to Higher Education and Support for Skilled Trades

For decades, young people have been told that a college degree is the only path to a secure future. Now, with the rise of automation and artificial intelligence, skilled trades like plumbing and welding offer strong, debt-free career opportunities. Yet, new federal policies—such as lifetime borrowing caps and the elimination of Grad PLUS loans—are making it harder than ever for students, especially those from working-class backgrounds, to afford higher education.

Medical and graduate students face impossible choices, with costs far exceeding new loan limits. Meanwhile, parents are saddled with stricter loan caps and fewer repayment options. These measures will deepen inequality, restrict access to vital professions, and force students to choose between lifelong debt or abandoning their dreams.

We call on policymakers to:

• Reverse harmful student loan caps and restore affordable financing for all students.
• Invest in tuition-free or debt-free public higher education.
• Expand federal and state support for high-quality skilled trades training and apprenticeships.
• Guarantee fair wages and protections for all workers, regardless of educational path.
• Address the root causes of student debt and ensure equitable opportunity for every generation.

Join us in demanding a future where education—college or trade—is a right, not a privilege.