Encourage Congress end support for post-secondary education loans

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Steve Demetriou and 1 co-sponsor

Ohio urges Congress to end federal post-secondary education loans, arguing free markets and debt reduce access and inflate tuition.

Introduced and Referred to Committee

#education #highereducation

Overview

Type: Concurrent resolution (not a bill changing law, but a formal expression of the Ohio General Assembly)

Session: 136th General Assembly, Regular Session

Bill Number: H. C. R. No. 46

Sponsor: Representative Riordan McClain (primary); Co-sponsors include Representative Steve Demetriou

Title: No title provided; the resolution states its purpose within the text

Purpose: To urge Congress to end support for post-secondary education loans

Main purpose and intent

The resolution explicitly encourages the United States Congress to discontinue support for federal post-secondary education loans.

It argues that federal student loan programs contribute to higher overall tuition costs and that a free-market approach should not involve government-backed higher education loans.

It emphasizes that many skilled-trades and other non-college pathways exist and that the government should not be involved in financing higher education.

Key provisions and changes

Statement of rationale:

Cites data (as of August 2025) on total U.S. student loan debt and the share that is federal debt.
Highlights figures such as:
Total U.S. student loan debt around $1.814 trillion
Federal student loan balance around $1.661 trillion
About 42.5 million borrowers with federal loan debt
Federal loans comprising roughly 91.6% of all student loan debt
Average federal debt balance about $39,075
Delinquency rate on federal loans around 11.3% (as of August 2025)
Average debt for a public university bachelor's degree around $31,960
As of February 2025, approximately one in six adults nationwide with federal student loan debt

Policy stance:

Asserts that a free-market economy should not have government-provided higher education loans
Claims that federal loans contribute to higher tuition costs rather than making higher education more affordable

Action urged:

Directs Congress to end support for post-secondary education loans

Who/what is affected

While not a binding law, the resolution targets federal policy and Congress.

It aims to influence federal higher education financing structures by advocating for the termination of federal student loan programs.

It is directed toward U.S. federal policymakers, with communications planned to:

The President of the United States
President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the Senate
Speaker and Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives
Ohio’s congressional delegation
Chancellor of Higher Education (likely Ohio)
News media in Ohio

Procedural and timeline aspects

Nature: The resolution is a formal expression of the Ohio House of Representatives (and Senate concurrence expected) rather than a bill that enacts law.

Timeline: As introduced in the 136th General Assembly (2025-2026). No specific implementation timeline is provided because it is a declarative resolution urging federal action.

Dissemination: Requires transmittal of authenticated copies to various federal and state recipients and media.

Potential impact and considerations

Symbolic/policy impact: Signals Ohio’s legislative stance against federal student loans and could influence public discourse and federal conversations.

Practical impact: Since resolutions do not change state or federal law, the direct impact on individuals or institutions is limited unless it catalyzes legislative action at the federal level.

Public data context: The resolution cites several national statistics to justify its stance; readers should note these numbers are presented to frame the argument and are taken as the resolution’s justification rather than an Ohio-specific finding.