WASHINGTON — Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, issued the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s announcement that it will begin implementation of the President’s executive order to cancel up to $20,000 of student debt:
“We are excited to see the realization of years of organizing by advocates in movements and progressives in Congress to cancel student debt with the beginning of the Biden administration’s implementation process. It is clear that the administration is working to set up as accessible and straightforward a system as possible. In the face of Republican attacks, we understand the White House is prioritizing processing for loans that are publicly held through the Department of Education, which will cover the majority of borrowers, and we appreciate the administration’s transparency in working to ensure that the relief will actually reach the people who need it.
“As this implementation process continues, progressives will be working to ensure that the administrative burden on borrowers is as painless as possible, allows people to self-attest to income and other data, and that the full promise of the President’s executive order reaches borrowers who qualify. We’ll continue to work with the administration to educate our constituents and quickly get information out about the program and steps forward, what’s available at studentaid.gov, and protecting them from fraud attempts.
“We are about to see the government implement one of the most important investments in working people of recent years — and it wouldn’t have been possible without the years of dedication from all who organized for it the bold action of President Biden.”
