Congressman Tom Udall, in his run for the open U.S. Senate seat in New Mexico, has been promoting national service as a strategy to lower higher education costs. 

In order to help students pay for college, Udall said he wants the United States to offer a package that works through agencies of public service, such as AmeriCorps. Udall hopes to increase the funding for those groups so that they can help students pay off loans and debt.

On his campaign website, Congressman Udall lists national service as a priority in addressing the economy.

Every New Mexico family knows that college tuition is becoming unaffordable for too many families. A good education is the key to finding and keeping good jobs. We need to give people the tools they need to start their own businesses, succeed, and stay here in New Mexico. I will work to expand college scholarship opportunities that will provide for two years of college for each year of national service. Scholarship recipients will be able to choose whether to serve in the military, in their local community, in a rural school, or in some other form of national service.

Congressman Udall will speak on Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention.  We thank him for his support of national service and look forward to receiving his signed ServeNext Pledge to Expand National Service in the mail when he gets back from Denver!