WASHINGTON — Presidential candidate Joe Biden is announcing a higher-education plan that includes two years of free community college.
The Biden campaign said Tuesday that giving free access to community college courses would cut the cost of a four-year degree in half.
Biden’s plan would also invest 50-billion dollars in high-quality job training programs, reduce student loan debt and make more Pell grants available.
It stops short of the four years of free college tuition proposed by Biden’s two leading rivals for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Biden, instead, proposes waiving $10,000 per year — up to five years — for those with public service jobs, such as teachers and members of the military.
“My students inspire me,”said Jill Biden, Joe Biden’s wife. “They’re single parents and veterans. They juggle multiple jobs and care for their families. Many of them are first-generation college students. They work so hard and ask for only one thing in return: opportunity. And every American deserves that.”
Biden’s plan also includes new spending aimed at improving access to college for low-income individuals, minorities and undocumented immigrants.
CNN contributed to this article
(PHOTO: Mario Tama/Getty Images)
