Mr. (soon to be Dr.) Knowland testified to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs that having decided in his late 20s to apply to medical school, he now faces the beginning of his residency with several hundred thousand dollars of student loan debt. He pointed out that 64% of the Maine Track's practicing graduates are working in Maine, as he plans to do after residency. He said people in his position are faced with a choice between a life and career in Maine and having to take the highest paying offer in order to repay massive student loans.

LD 1834 would provide some interest relief to graduates who spend at least 5 years living and working in Maine. It would not offer any assistance in the payment of loan principal.