August 5, 2021

To: Speaker Nancy Pelosi
From: Michael Kerr

We urge you to support President Biden using executive action to cancel student debt.

The Higher Education Act gives the President authority to cancel federal student loan debt. In fact, Joe Biden already used this authority for his COVID-19 related student debt relief. Taking immediate action on student debt would be a lifeline for students, parents, and their families.

Your student debt comments are concerning to us. They are at odds with others in Congress who are pressuring the President to cancel at least $50,000 in student debt. Senate Democrats and House Democrats passed resolutions laying out the legal framework for taking such action and over 415 organizations and hundreds of academics and experts have shared their support as well.

Executive action is the only immediate way to address the student debt crisis. We cannot wait for lawmakers to pass debt relief while the pandemic continues to cause economic harm, lost wages, and medical costs. Permanent relief would allow families to purchase necessities: food on their table, a roof over their head, and critical healthcare.

Student debt cancellation would also stimulate the economy when it is needed most. It would boost GDP by up to $108 billion a year, and, at a time when millions of Americans are out of work, it would add up to 1.5 million jobs to the economy each year.

Many of your constituents support canceling student debt. Recent polls show a majority of voters support debt cancellation during the pandemic and they found strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. Plus, over 1.5 million Student Debt Crisis supporters have signed petitions to cancel student debt in response to the pandemic.

We strongly urge you to support President Biden using executive action to cancel student debt.

Petition from Student Debt Crisis

My e-mail to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (August 5, 2021)

Please pressure President Biden to use executive action to cancel student debt.

The Higher Education Act gives the President authority to cancel federal student loan debt. Taking immediate action on student debt would be a lifeline for students, parents, and their families. Permanent relief would allow families to purchase necessities: food on their table, a roof over their head, and critical healthcare.

The Democratic party has two Republicans in its ranks preventing passage of bills that would help the vast majority of people. Executive action is the only immediate way to address the student debt crisis. We cannot wait for lawmakers to pass debt relief while the pandemic continues to cause economic harm, lost wages, and medical costs.

Student debt cancellation would also stimulate the economy at a time when millions of Americans are out of work. Recent polls show a majority of voters support debt cancellation during the pandemic and they found strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. Many people have signed petitions to cancel student debt in response to the pandemic. This is a win-win action for the Democratic Party’s chances of retaining the House and Senate in 2022 elections!

Please urge President Biden to use executive action to cancel student debt immediately