John,
Last week we sent an email explaining President Biden’s student debt cancellation plan and asking supporters like you to share how this cancellation will change their lives.
The stories you shared with us were personal, touching, and in some cases, frustrating. We are so grateful to all who opened up to us, and, with their permission, we wanted to share some snippets of their stories with all of you:
“By cancelling my student loan debt, that means I can now focus on paying off my car and start saving up for grad school or a home. It also gives me some breathing room which means I can continue to support small businesses in my community.” —Jesus, Arizona
“Since I graduated from college, my student loan payment has been my largest monthly bill after rent… This plan will significantly lower my monthly payment and allow me to pursue my farm dream without the burden of student loan debt weighing me down.” —Bobbi, Oregon
“I had so much anxiety about how I was going to make student loan payments when the moratorium is lifted. [The] income-based payment plans don't seem to take into account whether or not you're the single parent of a child, which I am. I cannot put into words the relief I am currently feeling.” —Kaneisha, Texas
“I paid off my student loan 48 years ago...after the difficulties I endured on a 3% APR loan, I cannot imagine the agony of modern student debt! I applaud Joe Biden for reducing some or all of that anxiety.” —Richard, Ohio
“At 17 and 18 years old, so many of us are faced with a question. Take out student loans, and go to the school of your dreams you worked so hard for and will change your life forever? Or don't because it's too expensive, and settle for the life you don't want to live? …We are teenagers, how are we supposed to make life altering financial decisions?...This is the step towards freedom and hope.” —Kamran, New York
We’re thrilled to hear from so many of our supporters about the life progress they’ll be able to make without worrying about their loan payments. But there is still so much work to be done.
As so many of you shared, President Biden’s plan is a great first step, but it should be viewed as exactly that: a first step, not the last.
“This will alleviate the $6,000 of federal debt that I have, but the majority of what I owe is through a private loan…I wish I could be as happy as some others, but I feel forgotten.” —Kyle, New York
“Loan cancellation will not help me because my balance is over $150,000 despite many years of paying…Every month I don’t have to pay student loans is a month in which I put money back into my community and into the health of my family." —Jennie, New York
That’s why we’re not stopping here, John.
If you can afford to, can you chip in a donation of just $3 today to support our work build a Working Families Majority in Congress? Even just $1 can make a huge difference as we work to elect majorities in Congress this November that will end the filibuster and build on our progress so we can have a government that works for all of us.
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And if you haven’t had a chance to share your story yet, you can still do so here. Your responses, especially in moments like this, help guide our priorities as a party going forward.
Solidarity forever,
WFP Digital Team
