Folks are trying to do away with it because they want the money for deficit reduction.

It's not a matter of affordability. It's a matter of access. If this program goes away, that will deny access to tens of thousands of students.

So that would be at most $500, while the average Perkins loan is $2,000. When you do the math, the net loss to students (in federal aid each year) would be at least $1,500.

In the big scheme of things, Perkins (Loans) ... pack a big punch.

You're talking about interest rates that are essentially credit card rates. You don't stand a chance of paying that back.

Congress is going to hear from student loan professionals at the school because they're the closest to the fight. Certainly members of Congress will listen to them, but the folks they will listen to the most are students who are Perkins Loans borrowers.