For Immediate Release: Thursday December 19, 2024

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), the Debt Collective and Higher Education Labor United (HELU) Call On President Biden To Deliver Student Debt Relief

• Alan Minsky | Alan@PDAmerica.org | 818-749-9497
• Mike Hersh | Mike@PDAmerica.org | 301-602-9399

Washington, DC (December 19, 2024) — Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) continues working the Debt Collective and Higher Education Labor United (HELU) to lift the crushing burden of student debt.

The campaign is mobilizing concerned Americans to contact the White House as well as their Senators and Representatives to urge action during the waning days of the Biden Administration.

Earlier this week, Astra Taylor, a cofounder of the Debt Collective, spoke with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now. Among her persuasive points, Astra explained, “[T]he vast majority of student debtors, especially the people in the most distress, went to for-profit colleges where they are systematically defrauded…that target vulnerable borrowers, first-generation students, single parents, veterans, disabled folks, and bury them in debt for worthless degrees.”

Astra added that, “older debtors, who, contrary to stereotypes, are the fastest-growing demographic of student debtors. Every quarter, there are more and more older folks in debt. People are aging into their student loans, not aging out. Nine million older debtors over the age of 50 owe $400 billion….”

She highlighted congressional support for student debt relief saying, “Senator Edward Markey and Dick Durbin and 70 other representatives have signed a letter saying, ‘Cancel the debt for these folks.’”

As Astra explained, “Donald Trump made very clear that it was his priority to stop student debt relief and to also embolden the for-profit college industry…. Project 2025 is very clear that they want to end student debt cancellation, that they want to privatize public education. In fact, we won’t be talking about abolishing student loans; we’ll be talking about abolishing the Department of Education.”

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is mobilizing, calling this effort “critical,” and “part of a much larger battle for the future of education itself.” The organization’s action alert urged its supporters to tell the President:

“Please act now to forgive as much student debt as possible, especially for older people, those defrauded, and those facing persistent financial hardship. I understand that the DoE has already submitted plans designed to comply with the Supreme Court’s Biden v. Nebraska decision, and that OMB is currently reviewing these policies. Act now to direct the OMB to approve the policies and ensure their publication in the Federal Register so they will take effect.”

PDA is also asking them to contact their Representative and both of your Senators and tell them to join the demand for student debt relief, even if they’re Republicans or conservative Democrats.

This because, “Student debt relief must be a non-partisan issue,” and telling activists to, “Remind Republicans that Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Secretary of Education, suspended student loan repayments and accrual of interest on federal student loans at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, relying on the HEROES Act.”

PDA offered this background as context for this campaign:

President Biden is already considering action on debt relief. After the Supreme Court’s June 2023 Biden v. Nebraska decision that blocked the original student debt relief policy, the Department of Education (DoE) submitted a revised plan to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This is the final step before a policy is published in the Federal Register, putting it into effect.

The revised policy would offer relief to borrowers burdened by long term debt and those who’ve been defrauded. The administration may also offer relief to people facing persistent financial hardship via a separate rule also currently under OMB review.

President Biden has already provided more student loan debt relief than any previous president, helping nearly 5 million people. This despite, Republican opposition that hampered his efforts.

For more info on Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), please see: pdamerica.org.

= END =