U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., plans to introduce two bills in Congress this week to help technical college students access financial aid.

The two bills — the Working Student Act and the CTE Opportunity Act, will boost the number of students eligible for federal education grants and loans. The Working Student Act would increase the amount of money a student could earn while working a job during school, without that income counting against them for need-based aid. The CTE Opportunity Act would extend eligibility for federal loans to short-term career and technical programs that don't currently meet federal requirements.

Baldwin said she was inspired to introduce the bills following a “listening tour” she'd been conducting around Wisconsin. She said the bills are about removing barriers to education.

“This is really something that helps give people in the middle class, hard-working Americans, a shot at getting ahead,” said Baldwin.

Sign up for daily news! Stay informed with WPR's email newsletter.

The Wisconsin Technical College System supports both bills. President Morna Foy said she appreciates the attention being given to technical college students, who she said are sometimes overlooked in conversations about student debt.

“It's not going to be a solution in every sense, or for every student, but I think it is an important way to try to get at the big nut that everyone is struggling with, which is the amount of student debt that college students from four and two-year schools are coming out of school with,” Foy said.

Baldwin said she has two co-sponsors for the Working Student Act and is working to find others for the CTE Opportunity Act.