Assemblyman Joe Giglio (R,C,I- Gowanda) joined his Minority colleagues today in support of the Affordable College For All Initiative, which seeks to lessen the burden on New York’s students and to help out those already paying down their student loans here in New York.

“The cost of higher education has been climbing for years, while the assistance programs that we offer at the state level have remained stagnant,” said Giglio “We need to ensure that the future of New York is bright and that starts with investing in our young people.”

The Assembly Minority’s proposal seeks to modernize the state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) which hasn’t been updated in the past 17 years, by increasing the maximum award to $6,470 per student, increasing the household income threshold for those eligible to qualify for TAP from $80,000 to $125,000, and providing a personal income tax deduction on interest and principal paid on student loans.

“Our proposal helps out all of those looking to further their educational and career aspirations, not just those attending public universities or those who already have begun paying back their student loans,” said Giglio. “Making college more affordable needs to be a priority for the Assembly this year, and I’m glad to be here today to support our conference’s plan.”