Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted By the Department of Education Relating to ``Waivers and Modifications of Federal Student Loans''

Floor Speech

Date: May 24, 2023
Location: Washington, DC
Keyword Search: Relief

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this resolution to nullify the Biden administration's Federal student loan forgiveness rule. At a time when students need relief the most, Republicans are working to upend student loan forgiveness that started under Trump and now continues under President Biden for more than 40 million borrowers.

There was broad recognition during the pandemic that relief was desperately needed for businesses, families, and students. That is why Congress, and Republicans under Trump, voted to pass both the CARES Act and The HEROES Act, which provided not only student loan relief, but also loans to protect businesses from shuttering and direct support to families. These were forgivable loans that we gave the businesses.

We helped workers and small businesses alike during the height of the pandemic. Again, both President Trump and President Biden paused student loan payments. Under this CRA we are debating today, we would see a rollback on the loan payment pause through September 2022. This is unimaginable.

Do not be fooled by the faux populism of Republicans. They raised the debt ceiling three times to pay for their tax cuts for the wealthiest 1 percent in America. By contrast, President Biden's targeted student loan relief plan helps Americans earning less than $75,000 a year.

When Democrats were in the majority and on the hook for providing assistance, we rose to the occasion to help small businesses and employees alike. We did not renege on our support for businesses through the PPP loans. I see no reason why Republicans now insist on reneging on their support for students.

Why, for the love of God, do Republicans want to continue to punch down on American students and divide our country?

The Biden administration's student debt relief plan is not a bailout. It is a lifeline.

I implore my Republican colleagues in Congress to speak with borrowers in their own districts about this very issue. College debt has been weighing on borrowers across all demographics across the country, including in their own districts.

Mr. Speaker, this should not be a partisan issue, and I oppose the resolution.

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