Act Now! Tell President Biden
To Deliver Student Debt Relief!

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) continues working with our allies, the Debt Collective and Higher Education Labor United (HELU) to lift the crushing burden of student debt. Now, in the Biden Administration’s waning days, we need your help!

This effort is critical, and part of a much larger battle for the future of education itself. Please contact the White House and Congress right now!

Call the White House:

• Main Number: 202-456-1414
• Comment Line: 202-456-1111
• TTY/TTD: 202-456-6213

Online: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

Use the general contact form, and also use the form to “Request Assistance with a Federal Agency.” When asked, “What would you like to discuss” type in ED and select “education.”

Use your own words 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.

Also, contact your Representative and both of your Senators.

Call them via the Capitol Hill switchboard (202) 224-3121. Ask the operator to connect you with their office, then ask to speak with or leave a message for the staffer working on education issues and/or the chief of staff.

Then, contact your Senators online or by email here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC

Contact your Representative by clicking here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative then click on their name to get to their contact page.

When asked for your topic, again select “education.” Use the general contact email address or online form, and also ask for “help with an agency.”

Tell them to join you in demanding student debt relief. Note: please use your own words. Also, please contact them even if they’re Republicans or conservative Democrats. Student debt relief must be a non-partisan issue.

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.

Additional information:

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.”

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 under OMB review.

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

It’s essential that you join us now in making a final push to deliver widespread student debt relief. Contact the President to urge action, and contact your Senators and Representative to tell them to support these policies.

Thank you for taking action!

In solidarity,

Mike Hersh for your PDA National Team

P.S. Please pitch in every month to help PDA keep mobilizing for progress!