Rep. Cleaver Applauds President Biden for Latest Round of Student Debt Relief for Public Sector Workers

March 22, 2024
Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) applauded President Joe Biden for cancelling another $6 billion in student loan debt for 78,000 public service workers, such as teachers, nurses, and firefighters, across the country. Following the President’s latest round of student debt cancellation, the White House has now approved nearly $144 billion in federal loan forgiveness for about 4 million borrowers in total—which Congressman Cleaver has strongly supported as a means to lower costs for families and boost economic activity in communities across the country.

“President Biden promised American families and students across the country that he would do everything in his power to provide relief to Americans burdened by student loan debt, and with each passing day, he continues to deliver on that promise, particularly for the public servants who keep our communities safe, healthy, and happy,” said Congressman Cleaver. “For years, public servants like nurses, teachers, firefighters, and police officers haven’t received the student debt relief they were entitled to under the law, but the Biden-Harris Administration has taken critical steps to allow these local heroes to obtain the relief they earned through years of community service. Not only will such steps provide Missouri families with a little extra breathing room, but it will also support local small businesses that benefit from additional economic activity.”

In 2022, President Biden announced an historic effort to cancel student debt for 20 million middle-class and low-income borrowers. However, the Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court blocked President Biden from providing relief. Despite this setback, the President and his administration searched for ways to provide relief to millions of families. Ultimately, they have done this through four critical efforts for qualifying borrowers:

  • Revamping the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, with the Biden-Harris Administration taking historic action to strengthen the PSLF program and bring $62.5 billion in student debt cancellation to more than 871,000 public servants—including nearly 19,000 teachers, first responders, firefighters, non-profit workers, and government employees in Missouri.
  • Cancelling debt for borrowers preyed on by for-profit colleges and universities. At the direction of President Biden, the Department of Education has cancelled student debt for borrowers who were misled by fraudulent for-profit institutions and took out federal student loans to enroll in them. More than 1.3 million of these borrowers have seen a total of $22.5 billion in student debt cancelled.
  • Cancelling debt for borrowers with disabilities, ensuring borrowers with a disability can receive student debt cancellation via a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge application. More than 513,000 Americans with permanent and total disabilities have seen their loans cancelled, amounting to $11.7 billion.
  • Fixing income-driven repayment plans once and for all. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan is an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan that cuts payments on undergraduate loans in half and brings student loan payments down to as low as $0 per month. Roughly 930,500 borrowers have saved a total of $45.6 billion through adjustments to IDR payments and the SAVE plan.

“While America has experienced a remarkably strong economic recovery from the global pandemic, I know that there are Missourians who are still struggling to get by,” said Congressman Cleaver. “President Biden’s student debt cancellation programs are one of the many ways in which his administration is working to lower costs for middle-class families, and whether you are a public servant or on an income-driven repayment plan, I strongly encourage Missourians with student loans to learn more about these programs and see if they’re eligible for relief.”

Individuals on an income-driven repayment plan can visit StudentAid.gov/IDR for more information.

Missouri teachers, firefighters, government employees, and any other categories of public servants can visit StudentAid.gov/PSLF to find more information and apply for relief.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.