MSU alumna Stabenow said she will be proposing and getting a bill number for the Reducing Educational Debt, or RED, Act within the next few weeks.

The three-fold plan includes measures to refinance high-interest loans and lock both private and public loans to the lowest federal interest. The lowest interest in 2013-14 was a rate of nearly 4 percent.

“We want to lock things in at 3.86 percent,” Stabenow said. “Anyone who has student loans would be able to lock in.”

If passed, the act would increase Pell Grant awards each year and tie the grants to inflationary rates. The plan also calls for joint action at both state and federal levels on two year tuition-free community college.

Stabenow said she was able to attend MSU despite financial woes because of scholarships and working as a resident assistant for two years.

“There has been a huge shift in tuition cost,” Stabenow said.

Stabenow said the state and its two sources of funding are below what's needed at universities.

“Most funding for college and universities comes through the state,” Stabenow said. “One is student aid ... and the other is research funding.”

Stabenow said she has seen college affordability tank since her time as a student.

“This year we have decided that we want this to be a very top priority for us," Stabenow said.

Stabenow said the fear of losing the middle class and students being trapped in debt has pushed the RED Act as a priority.

“You should be able to walk out and be excited about the future," she said.

Stabenow also made a stop at Western Michigan University to speak on student debt.

Various student groups were represented in the discussion focusing on student debt relief legislation.

"I think it's huge having Sen. Stabenow come to campus," Domonique Clemons, president of the Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, said. "It shows her commitment to students."

Clemons said it's hard for students to be heard because they are not necessarily the biggest voting blocs.

"I think a lot of time we see, even things that affects students, people come in introducing legislation and don't talk to those necessarily involved," Clemons said.

Connor Berdy, Michigan Federation of College of Democrats communications director, said it's good to see legislation like the RED Act come about.

"The challenge is really overcoming the other side of the aisle, which doesn't really budge much on issues as simple as this," he said.

Berdy said building a coalition of young people will be essential in getting bills like the RED Act passed.

"I'm all for the end goal of free college for everyone who is qualified," Berdy said.

Stabenow said the goal is is to have debt-free college for all college students. She said a bill will be proposed in the Michigan Senate in the next few weeks.

“The second highest form of consumer debt right now is student loan debt, which is insane," Stabenow said. “The system is crazy and it’s stacked against students.”

Stabenow said her main objective even if the bill passes is to keep going on the issue for more relief for students.

“This is an individual issue ... it’s also an economic issue,” Stabenow said.

Stabenow said students should involve themselves in the proposal of debt relief and higher education funding

"It should be much easier to go to college, when I was in college it was much easier." Stabenow said.

Stabenow said Michigan's state assistance is 20 percent lower than the average funding for universities and community colleges.

"We should not place students in the position of trying to decide whether or not to get the skills that they want," Stabenow said.