Congress returned to Washington on Monday with the Senate expected to vote later in the week on legislation to lower student-loan interest rates that doubled on July 1. Students from Vermont and around the country have told Sen. Bernie Sanders about their personal experiences with student debt.

“My wife and I both have $50K-$60K of loan debt each.  We both have good jobs, but a large percentage of our income is used to pay back student loans … The education process should be rewarding and create opportunities.  For my wife and I it did the opposite. This is a major issue for my generation and those younger than me,” wrote Evan Champagne of  St. Albans, Vt.

“To me student loans have become the modern day definition of servitude. I feel that I will forever be indentured to the U.S. government,” said Sarah Heidebrecht of Barnard, Vt.

“I don't mind paying back the $70,000 I borrowed to go back to school to get my doctorate, not one bit. But with interest rates of 8.5 percent and 6.8 percent, watching the interest eat away my savings every month is hard to swallow … This is putting our plans for having a family on hold- because we want to have our finances in better order before doing so. I went back to school so I could make a better living … but the high interest rates make it feel like we are running in mud- not moving forward,” said Emily Decker of Colchester, Vt.

Tell Sen. Sanders your story about student loans »