As a constituent of yours and a volunteer with Zero Debt Massachusetts, I ask that you please co-sponsor the Professional License Protection Act (H.4339, previously H. 3161) as a critical step to bringing our Massachusetts higher education system a step closer to being one rooted in justice and equity. This bill already passed in the MA House, and now is the time to support moving it from the Senate Ways and Means Committee to the floor of the Senate for a favorable vote!

It is bewildering and unacceptable that under Massachusetts law, working people such as barbers, nurses, teachers, and others are currently able to lose their professional work license just for defaulting on their student loans. This sets working people up for an inescapable cycle of needing to work to pay off their student loans but not legally being able to work because they are behind on their student loans - it makes no sense.

This is common sense, bi-partisan supported legislation that simply put - must be passed. Let’s protect the ability of all working people to continue working.

I look forward to hearing more about your stance on this essential policy!

In Solidarity,