John,
Next month, millions of people will have to postpone their lives in order to restart federal student loan payments. Since the far-right Supreme Court blocked President Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan, many will have to choose between putting food on the table or paying that dreaded bill once the pandemic-era payment pause is lifted.
I know what it’s like, because I have student debt too: over $200,000 of it.
Like many folks in Pennsylvania and across the country, I didn’t have the money to pay my way through college — at 17, I had a single mom who was just laid off from her job and had no way to help contribute to my college education.
As I recently told Business Insider, I faced the same choice millions of others did: take out loans or miss out on obtaining a degree to unlock career opportunities and a better chance at a successful future.
All of us are sold the story that in order to even have the opportunity to excel in this country, you need a college degree. So, like many of you, I took out loans and figured I would eventually make enough to pay them off. But even where I am today, I struggle to put a dent in my remaining student loan balance as interest rates surge. This debt leaves too many people unable to afford to pay other bills, buy a house, or pursue their passions.
While the Biden Administration has successfully forgiven $116 million in federal student loan debt for 3.4 million borrowers, there are more than 40 million more people in desperate need of relief. It’s time they cancel it all.
As monthly payments for students surpass entire mortgage payments, we must double down to fix this broken system. As long as I’m in Congress, I’m pushing not only for full student debt cancellation, but free public college for all. And that means the GOP is already gunning to unseat me next year.
No one in this country should have to choose between pursuing a higher education and feeding their family. Canceling my student debt would change my life, and I know it would change the lives of millions of others in this country. The President has the authority to do it, so let’s get it done.
In solidarity,
Summer
