Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is set to unveil on Tuesday legislation that would provide free tuition at four-year public colleges and universities.
Sanders, who’s running for president on the Democratic ticket, had originally called earlier this year for two years of free tuition.
The Vermont independent argued in a statement Sunday that the U.S. needs the “best-educated workforce” in order to remain competitive globally.
“That will not happen, if, every year, hundreds of thousands of bright young people cannot afford to go to college, and if millions more leave school deeply in debt,” said Sanders, the ranking member on the Senate Budget Committee.
His legislation would eliminate undergraduate tuition at public colleges and universities, the statement said, and would expand work study programs. The measure would also “substantially lower” student debt and bring down rates on student loans, it said.
Sanders, who has been trying to cast himself as the most progressive candidate, called in February for federal and state governments to invest $18 billion per year in public higher education in order to make tuition free for two years.
Hillary Clinton, considered the Democratic frontrunner, hasn’t discussed too many specific policy proposals yet, including college tuition and student debt. MSNBC reported late last month that Clinton would soon unveil a college student debt plan.