Congresswoman Maxine Waters Introduces Legislation Expanding Parents’ Access to Affordable PLUS Loan Repayment Plans

Washington, D.C – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) introduced the Affordable PLUS Repayment Options for Parents Act of 2025, which would make affordable, income-driven repayment (IDR) plans available to parents who have taken out “Parent PLUS” loans to send their children to college.

“Our student debt system is broken, and Black and Latino communities are hit the hardest,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “Parents are drowning in student loan debt from Parent PLUS loans simply because they want to help their children get an education. While Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and the rest of the Republican party want to defund the Department of Education, I’m fighting for real solutions that will bring relief to families.” 

There are currently 3.6 million Parent PLUS borrowers with a collective $110.3 billion in student loan debt.  In the last decade alone, there has been a 73% increase in outstanding balances. This bill will make repaying Parent PLUS loans more manageable for parents.

Alongside Waters, this bill is cosponsored by Representatives Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Janelle Bynum (OR-5), André Carson (IN-07), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

Read the full text of the bill HERE.