U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria represents Virginia's Second Congressional District. Prior to her election in 2018, Rep. Luria served two decades in the Navy, retiring at the rank of Commander. Rep. Luria served at sea on six ships as a nuclear-trained Surface Warfare Officer, deployed to the Middle East and Western Pacific, and culminated her Navy career by commanding a combat-ready unit of 400 sailors. Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee and a member the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Rep. Luria was one of the first women in the Navy's nuclear power program and among the first women to serve the entirety of her career in combatant ships. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, where she is the committee's Vice Chair, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves as Chair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, and the House Committee on Homeland Security. Of all members in the House Democratic Caucus, she served the longest on active duty, having completed 20 years of active military service with the U.S. Navy. Rep. Luria graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and received a master's in engineering management from Old Dominion University.
Education is the foundation for success in our democracy. I strongly believe all students should have access to a quality education, regardless of their zip code.
During my first term in Congress, I have continued to fight for Coastal Virginians. Our close connection with the military makes education funding a challenge. That is why I supported increased funding for Impact Aid to support schools with a high population of military children. Knowing firsthand that military children come with their own set of unique challenges, I called on Governor Northam to allow a military spouse on the Military Compact Commission to facilitate communication between military families and their new school setting.
I've also worked to expand access to broadband internet. Now more than ever it is important that all children, especially the ones most in need to have access to the internet and receive a quality education even in the midst of a pandemic.
The increasing costs of student loans have been a major concern of mine, as student debt has reached over $1.5 trillion, second only to mortgages in the consumer debt category. I have spoken with teacher unions in my district and they expressed concern over the high costs to pay for school and how that impacts their retention rates. That is why I introduced the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Improvement Act. My legislation would increase the outdated forgiveness rates from $17,500 for special education and STEM educators to $30,000. Non-science-based teachers would receive an increase as well of $15,000 from $5,000. In addition to my legislation, I supported the College Affordability Act. This legislation would reauthorize the Higher Education Act, which hasn't been done since 2008.
I strongly believe that we need to do more for students by providing them with the resources they need to succeed, whether that's preparing them for college or the workforce.