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“STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR PUBLIC ATTORNEYS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1040 on May 21, 2003.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR PUBLIC ATTORNEYS
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HON. DAVID SCOTT
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Prosecutors and Defenders Incentive Act.
Throughout the country, District Attorneys are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified and experienced attorneys. Recent law school graduates face difficult choices regarding their legal careers. While a starting salary at a private law firm now often exceeds $100,000, the average starting salary in a district attorneys office is approximately $35,000.
With undergraduate and law school loans frequently amounting to
$100,000, aspiring public attorneys face a crippling debt burden that drives them to other career choices. This financial burden likely hits minority students even harder and makes their decisions about a public service career that much more difficult. A system of continual turnover severely impact on law enforcement and the ability to ensure justice.
Due to the increasing fiscal constraints faced at the state and local level, public officials are unable to raise salaries to a competitive level. More than ever, America needs an effective justice system. The Department of Justice has recognized that public defenders and prosecutors should have access to student loan forgiveness programs as an important means of reducing staff turnover.
Under my legislation, a recently-recruited public attorney would enter a written agreement that specified that he or she would remain employed as a prosecutor or public defender for a required period of service of not less than 3 years, unless involuntarily separated from employment. If the attorney is involuntarily separated from employment on account of misconduct, or voluntarily separates from that employment before the end of the period specified in the agreement, the individual would be required to repay the amount of any benefits received. Successive agreements could be made to continue the loan payments until the maximum amount authorized is reached.
Under the proposal, the Secretary of Education would make the loan payments for the attorney for the period of the agreement if the funds were made available through appropriations. Students loan repayments would not exceed $6,000 for any borrower in any calendar year or a total of $40,000 in the case of any borrower. This legislation is supported by the National District Attorneys Association.
I hope my colleagues will join me by supporting and cosponsoring this legislation.
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