Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,I-Lockport) joined Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I,Ref-Canandaigua) and Assembly members Nicole Malliotakis (R,C,I-Brooklyn, Staten Island) and Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I-South Huntington) at a press conference today announcing their plan to allow more New Yorkers to receive a college degree, while also starting their post-graduate life without the burden of debt.

“Part of the reason New York’s ‘brain drain’ is so high is because students are crushed with loans and debt after graduation. Our plan makes it more affordable for students to stay here in New York after they graduate by creating a new income tax deduction on both your student loan interest and principal,” said Norris. “We also want to make sure more New Yorkers can attend college, and that’s why we are improving the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to do just that. With a higher income eligibility threshold and increased TAP awards more students will be able to afford college at any institution of their choice.”

The Assembly Minority Conference’s Affordable College for All Initiative allows students to receive increased TAP awards that can be applied to both private and public colleges and universities. The household income threshold would be raised to $125,000 and every award would be $500 larger. Additionally, the maximum TAP award would grow from $5,165 to $6,470. The plan also allows New Yorkers paying student loans to qualify for an income tax deduction on student loan interest and principal amounts that would range from $4,000 for individual filers to $8,000 for those filing jointly.

EDITORS’ NOTE: A video of Norris’ comments at the press conference can be viewed by clicking here: https://youtu.be/OPU6_TpmTOU. Mike Norris represents the 144th Assembly District comprised of portions of Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties. To learn more about Norris, please visit his Assembly Website.