Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) today joined with his Democratic colleagues in Pennsylvania’s U.S. House delegation in calling on President Biden to extend the student loan payment moratorium, which was implemented due to the continued impact of the pandemic. Payments are currently set to resume on Feb. 1, 2022.
Evans said, “The pandemic isn’t over, so the student loan payment pause shouldn’t be over either. President Biden has the power to do this without the approval of the Senate, and I strongly urge him to announce a continuation of this pause soon.” (UPDATE: Following the letter from Congressman Evans and the PA Democratic delegation in the House, the White House has announced the pause will be extended to May 1, 2022.)
Evans also called in May for Biden to cancel “at least $50,000 of student debt per borrower – especially for low-income and middle-class borrowers – so that higher education can once again be a path to a better life, instead of resulting in a long-term burden. Student debt relief would also help communities like Philadelphia that are home to several colleges and universities.”
Congressman Conor Lamb (D-PA-17th), who led today’s letter to Biden, said, “The pandemic has left too many people struggling to pay for basic necessities. Pennsylvania is ranked number two in average debt held by graduates, and most student loan borrowers – including veterans– are not in a position to begin making payments. President Biden must extend the pause on student loan repayments until the pandemic is over.”
Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2nd) said, “As someone who is still paying off tens of thousands of dollars of student loans myself, I’m well aware student loan debt was already a significant problem prior to the pandemic. It would only have gotten worse if not for the decisive action of President Biden to hit the ‘pause button’ on student loan repayment. This was a lifeline that saved millions from going into default, or worse. I proudly join my colleagues in urging President Biden to extend the moratorium.”
Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-5th) said, “As the Omicron variant surges in the United States, it is clear the pandemic is far from over, and too many Americans are still struggling to cover basic expenses like rent, food, and child care. Resuming student loan payments in this moment — just as we are experiencing another spike in COVID-19 cases — will hurt families that are least able to navigate this ongoing crisis. We call upon President Biden to extend the pause on student loan repayments as the country tackles the latest surge and continues to recover.”
The lawmakers’ joint letter to Biden states: “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 provided relief to the millions of student loan borrowers across the country by pausing federal student loan payments. As you know, both your Administration and the previous administration extended the payment pause due to the continued widespread impact of the pandemic, but payments are set to resume on February 1, 2022. We write to urge that you extend the pause again, until the country is back on its feet and the national emergency has ended. As new variants emerge, impacting our recovery efforts, it is even more vital to ensure that we are protecting those who need it most.”
Click here to view a copy of the letter.
Evans represents Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia.
Original source can be found here.
