A Central Illinois Congressman is looking to tackle the student loan crisis through a new student loan tax benefit for employers.

Congressman Rodney Davis announced the Employer Participation in Repayment Act in a social media post. It allows employers to make tax-free student loan payments on behalf of their employees.

According to data compiled by C-N-B-C, some 44 million Americans hold over one point six trillion dollars in student debt. The Federal Reserve indicates the average Illinoian owes over 29-thousand dollars in student debt in a recent report.