Latest news with #RAP
CNBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Here's what your student loan bill could be under new repayment plan in Republicans' 'big beautiful' bill
Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act could result in higher monthly payments for many federal student loan borrowers, a new analysis finds. If the legislation is enacted as drafted, a student loan borrower earning roughly $80,000 a year (the median for a bachelors' degree holder in 2024) would have a monthly payment of $467 under the GOP-proposed "Repayment Assistance Plan," or RAP, according to recent findings by the Student Borrower Protection Center. That compares with a $187 monthly bill on the Biden administration's now-blocked SAVE, or Saving On A Valuable Education plan. No matter their income, borrowers face higher monthly payments under RAP compared to SAVE, the analysis found. For lower incomes, the difference may be just $10 per month; for higher earners, the new repayment plan can be as much as $605 per month pricier. Depending on their income, some federal student loan borrowers also face higher payments on RAP than they would have on the U.S. Department of Education's other income-driven repayment plans, including PAYE, or Pay As You Earn and IBR, or Income-Based Repayment. However, some borrowers on PAYE or IBR plans would have a smaller bill under RAP. For example, a borrower with a roughly $60,000 annual income would pay $250 a month on RAP, and $304 on PAYE, the SBPC found. The House advanced its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in May. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions released its budget bill recommendations related to student loans on June 10. Senate lawmakers are preparing to debate the massive tax and spending package. Under the Republican proposals, there would be just two repayment plan choices for borrowers who take out loans after July 1, 2026, compared with roughly a dozen options now. After graduation, those student loan borrowers could either enroll in a standard repayment plan with fixed payments, or a single income-based repayment plan: RAP. Here's a look at other stories affecting the financial advisor business. Under RAP, monthly payments would typically range from 1% to 10% of a borrower's income; the more they earn, the bigger their required payment. There would be a minimum monthly payment of $10 for all borrowers. The new plan would fail to provide many borrowers with an affordable monthly bill — the goal of Congress when it established income-driven repayment plans in the 1990s, Michele Zampini, senior director of college affordability at The Institute for College Access & Success, recently told CNBC. "If Republicans' proposed 'Repayment Assistance Plan' is the only thing standing between borrowers and default, we can expect many to suffer the nightmarish experience of default," Zampini said. Meanwhile, current income-driven repayment plans now conclude in loan forgiveness after 20 years or 25 years. But RAP wouldn't lead to debt erasure until 30 years. "This kind of financial drag could further delay major life milestones like homeownership, starting a family, or saving for retirement," said Doug Boneparth, a certified financial planner and the founder and president of Bone Fide Wealth in New York. He is a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council. There's also "an emotional toll" to carrying student debt for so long, said Cathy Curtis, the founder of Curtis Financial Planning in Oakland, California. She is also a member of CNBC's Financial Advisor Council. "It reinforces the feeling of being stuck — especially for those who've already struggled to access opportunity," Curtis said. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, has said his party's plans would lift the burden on taxpayers of subsidizing college graduates' loan payments. ″[Former President Joe] Biden and Democrats unfairly attempted to shift student debt onto taxpayers that chose not to go to college," Cassidy said in a statement on June 10. He said his committee's bill would save an estimated $300 billion out of the federal budget.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Scientists put long-term effects of little-known road materials under microscope: 'We hope our research will lead to solutions'
Roads are essential infrastructure, but they're made with nonrenewable materials and have a significant carbon footprint, which opens up recycling opportunities. Over 94% of paved roads in the U.S. are made with asphalt. It's a dirty fuel product that requires high temperatures to manufacture and was responsible for around 22 million tons of planet-warming carbon dioxide pollution annually between 2009 and 2019. However, transportation agencies have begun recycling some of this material when roads need to be broken down and repaved. The product is called reclaimed asphalt pavement, or RAP, and it helps reduce emissions and conserve natural resources, according to a report shared by The Conversation. In 2021, 95% of asphalt mixtures reclaimed from old pavement were put back into use on repaved roadways, saving over 2.8 million tons of CO2 in the process. This led civil engineering researchers from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to examine more thoroughly the long-term safety and durability of RAP compared to new pavement materials, the report explained. The study focused on the frictional properties of RAP in terms of road safety, especially during wet conditions. It shared that nearly 75% of weather-related auto accidents occurred on wet pavement. Asphalt is generally the combination of a sticky, petroleum-based binder and aggregates, such as crushed stone, gravel, or sand. To recycle asphalt, contractors use a milling machine to grind up old pavement surfaces and then blend them with new binders and some additional aggregates to ensure some level of performance. Pavement friction is the force that resists motion between a vehicle's tires and the pavement surface, the report detailed, and understanding how RAP performs in this regard is essential to road safety. The researchers developed a two-step process to examine the frictional properties of RAP aggregates, as they're essential to skid resistance. Do you think governments should ban the production of gas-powered lawn equipment? Absolutely Yes — but not yet I don't know Heck no Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. It involved a mechanical inspection of the RAP, where it was crushed to expose the material's inner surfaces. That was followed by chemical analysis, where a solvent was used to dissolve the asphalt, revealing the aggregates for closer inspection. The results are helping engineers determine if RAP mixes are safe for curving roads or intersections and understand how much of the recycled mix can be safely used. "We hope our research will lead to solutions that reduce carbon emissions, conserve natural resources and keep roads safe over time," the report added. Other studies have explored using plastic waste as a component in new asphalt to help reduce the need for mining new materials and reduce waste, while the development of permeable and porous road surfaces can help reduce the danger of flash floods. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
News18
04-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- News18
The Riveting Story Of The Indian Skimmer's Revival From The Brink Of Extinction
Last Updated: The Indian Skimmer, a striking black and white bird with a long orange bill, is a low flyer, with its lower mandible slicing the water to 'skim' for fish On a quiet March morning in 2023, two young birders, Yudish and Ankit, stood motionless near Haiderpur Wetland in western Uttar Pradesh, binoculars trained on a distant sandbar. 'Is that… an Indian Skimmer?" one whispered. It was a breath-taking moment. The rare Schedule I bird, which numbered between 3,700 and 4,400 globally as of 2021, had returned to breed in India's Ganga basin. The Indian Skimmer, a striking black and white bird with a long orange bill, is a low flyer, with its lower mandible slicing the water to 'skim' for fish. It breeds only on undisturbed sandbars in large rivers and wetlands. However, it faces grave threats from habitat loss, lack of awareness among riverine communities, flooding or even the slightest fluctuations in water levels. Driven by this urgency, Ashish Loya, a BITS Pilani alumnus and former finance professional in New York, sprang into action. An Art of Living teacher and a long-time birdwatcher, Loya had been documenting the Haiderpur Wetland's biodiversity for years. He was inspired by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's message that 'every creature on the planet brings a certain vibration. And even if one creature goes missing, the planet would be poorer for it. Every species plays an important role in maintaining the balance on the planet". Loya believed this was a test of both nature and spirit. Upon being informed about the sighting by Yudish, Loya knew he had to act fast. Within days, he submitted a proposal to the Wildlife Trust of India's Rapid Action Projects (RAP). Emergency funding followed and, soon, a locally led conservation project took flight. Loya assembled a team of eight youth volunteers from a pool of 25 trained birders, many introduced to conservation through Art of Living workshops. These 'Nest Guardians' set up a base near the nesting site, building a temporary hut on the riverbank. They worked in shifts, monitoring the birds around the clock. Ashish Gujjar, part of Loya's team, and a field assistant at WTI, was instrumental in putting together and leading the team. Gujjar explained, 'We marked the nests with small toothpicks from a safe distance to avoid disturbing the birds," he recalls. They tracked everything: when eggs were laid, when they hatched, and whether the chicks survived. Dogs, curious tourists, even fishermen posed risks. The team also began regular coordination with the irrigation department, pleading for timely alerts to avoid abrupt water releases. But on May 6, 2023, without warning, water was released upstream from Haridwar. It split the sandbar into two. Most nests were gone by morning. 'We were heartbroken," says Loya. 'But we weren't giving up." Incredibly, the Skimmers returned within days, choosing the same sandbar to try again. This time, 10 eggs were laid. The team used sandbags to guard against further erosion and constructed a floating sturdy banana-stem raft, an improvised platform, hoping fledglings could climb on it in case the sandbars got flooded again. Unfortunately, the rafts did not last. Only four chicks survived the initial weeks. In June 2023, just days before fledging, another surge of river water washed away the remaining chicks. 'That night was the hardest," admits Loya. 'I got the volunteers to meditate, rest and recoup their energies because the journey ahead of us was a long one and we couldn't lose hope yet." Loya adds, 'They'd seen the full nesting cycle up close by now. So, they were better prepared to save the nests if the birds returned." Lessons from a Lost Season By 2024, monitoring had become second nature for the group. But despite consistent scouting, no active nesting sites could be located. One promising flock of 74 birds was spotted, only to be driven away by encroaching farming activity near the sandbar. Then came a breakthrough in 2025. While leading a birdwatching tour, Gujjar noticed a group of 150 Skimmers behaving unusually. Some were carrying fish inland, a tell-tale sign they were feeding. He traced their flight path, combed the area, and found 15 active nests on a remote downstream sandbar. This time, the intervention was swift. The team reinforced the site with sandbags, limited human access, and worked closely with the irrigation department to maintain stable water levels. Fifty-eight chicks finally made it through. 'The joy was immense," says Loya. 'Not just because of the numbers, but because we finally had proof that local efforts can work." The ripple effects of this small project are already visible. The Nest Guardians now conduct awareness drives in nearby villages, educating boatmen and farmers on the ecological significance of the Skimmer. Art of Living workshops have helped cultivate a deeper appreciation for river biodiversity among communities that rely on it daily. The project has been appreciated by experts nationally and internationally as well. Ornithologist Carol Inskipp remarked, 'It's encouraging to see local leadership in action." Prof Bivash Pandav of the Wildlife Institute of India praised the initiative, calling it 'a model for grassroots conservation". top videos View all In saving the Skimmers, the Art of Living volunteers didn't just protect a bird. They restored faith in what's possible. Once a neglected area, the Haiderpur wetlands have now been designated as India's 47th Ramsar Site. First Published: June 04, 2025, 13:41 IST News opinion Opinion | The Riveting Story Of The Indian Skimmer's Revival From The Brink Of Extinction
CNBC
02-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' could mean 4 major changes for student loan borrowers
In the coming weeks, the U.S. Senate is expected to consider, amend and eventually vote on President Donald Trump's budget agenda, called the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." The House passed the bill on May 22 by a single vote. The massive bill includes a variety of provisions aiming to cut government spending and raise revenue to address the federal deficit. Major provisions include making Trump's 2017 tax policy permanent where it would otherwise expire at the end of the year and cutting Medicaid benefits. Efforts to reform the federal student loan program are also included within the bill's 1,000-plus pages. The section addressing the nation's student debt would create a new income-based repayment plan, change eligibility rules for Pell Grants, aim to hold schools accountable for students' debt loads and more. The bill has an uncertain future in the Senate, but as it stands, here are four of the impacts current and future federal student loan borrowers could see. Critics of the current federal student loan system often contend that borrowers have too many repayment options, which are both confusing and overwhelming. If enacted as currently written, future federal borrowers will have just two repayment plan options: an updated version of the standard repayment plan and a new income-based plan known as the Repayment Assistance Plan. Borrowers with loans disbursed before July 1, 2026 will have the option of keeping their current plan, with the exception of the income-contingent repayment plan. Currently, the standard repayment plan sets borrowers' monthly payment at a fixed number, paying off their loans in 10 years. The new standard plan would offer a fixed payment with loan terms spanning from 10 to 25 years, based on the amount borrowed, according to a House committee fact sheet. The Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP, will replace the currently available income-driven plans except for the Income-Based Repayment plan. On RAP, borrowers' monthly bill would be between 1% and 10% of their income, depending on how much they earn. Borrowers would pay a minimum of $10 a month and any interest exceeding their minimum monthly payment would be waived. Monthly payments for each income bracket are set as 1% of adjusted gross income for borrowers earning between $10,000 and $20,000 a year, 2% of income for those earning between $20,000 and $30,000 a year and so forth. Borrowers earning $100,000 or more will pay a maximum of 10% of their income on RAP. The plan also offers a matching principal payment of up to $50, so borrowers whose monthly payment is less than that or only covers interest can still see their balance shrink. Borrowers can have any remaining debt forgiven after 30 years of on-time monthly payments. Payments on RAP will qualify toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Undergraduates will have a borrowing cap of $50,000 over the course of their studies beginning with loans disbursed on July 1, 2026, up from the current $31,000 aggregate limit. Annually, students will have a cap on federal loans equal to the national median cost for their program or similar fields of study, and schools will have the ability to set lower limits. Graduate borrowers will have a cap of $100,000 or $150,000 for professional programs, including medicine. Parents will also have a $50,000 total limit on federal loans. Parents and grad students currently have no borrowing limit. The proposal also eliminates subsidized loans, which currently allow borrowers to avoid accruing interest on their debt during certain periods, such as while they are in school. Under the proposal, borrowers will lose the ability to have their loan payments paused when they are facing economic hardship, including unemployment. For loans disbursed after July 1, 2026, the proposal eliminates the option current borrowers have to request an economic hardship deferment for up to three years. Additionally, the limit on discretionary forbearances would drop to nine months over a 24-month period, from the current 12-month limit and three-year cumulative maximum. The proposal limits future administrations' ability to alter repayment plans or enact related policies. The bill would, going forward, require the Secretary of Education to demonstrate that any new regulations or executive actions would not increase costs for the federal government and prevents the Secretary from enacting any policies that do not meet that requirement. Additionally, the bill would repeal regulations for schools like the gainful employment rule, which requires institutions to demonstrate their educational offerings are sufficient to help students land well-paying jobs. Schools that do not meet gainful employment expectations risk losing access to federal funding. The gainful employment rule is intended to help students avoid low-value programs that leave them with too much debt and minimal earning potential. ,
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rapport Therapeutics to Host 2025 Investor and Analyst Day
BOSTON and SAN DIEGO, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rapport Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RAPP), a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of small molecule precision medicines for patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders, today announced it will host its inaugural Investor and Analyst Day on Monday, June 2, 2025, in New York City. The event will also be webcast live. Rapport senior management will review the company's clinical programs, with a focus on the RAP-219 Phase 2a trial in refractory focal epilepsy. The event will also feature a fireside chat with Dr. Jacqueline A. French—a globally recognized leader in epilepsy research, professor of Neurology at NYU Langone's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, founder and director of the Epilepsy Study Consortium, and principal investigator of the RAP-219 Phase 2a trial. Event Details:Date: Monday, June 2, 2025Time: 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Eastern TimeLocation: Nasdaq MarketSite, New York City Live and archived webcasts of the presentation can be accessed by visiting 'Events & Presentations' in the Investors section on the Company's website at About Rapport TherapeuticsRapport Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing small molecule precision medicines for patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders. The Company's founders have made pioneering discoveries related to the function of receptor associated proteins (RAPs) in the brain. Their findings form the basis of Rapport's RAP technology platform, which enables a differentiated approach to generate precision small molecule product candidates with the potential to overcome many limitations of conventional neurology drug discovery. Rapport's precision neuroscience pipeline includes the Company's lead investigational drug, RAP-219, designed to achieve neuroanatomical specificity through its selective targeting of a RAP expressed in only discrete regions of the brain. The Company is currently pursuing RAP-219 as a potential treatment for refractory focal epilepsy, bipolar mania and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. Additional preclinical and late-stage discovery stage programs are also underway, including targeting chronic pain and hearing disorders. ContactJulie DiCarloHead of Communications & IR, Rapport Therapeuticsjdicarlo@ in to access your portfolio
