Photo: Suzanne Sausville / WBZ NewsRadio
BROCKTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Despite an injunction from a federal appeals court temporarily blocking it, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren are touring the Bay State to encourage borrowers to apply for President Biden's student loan forgiveness program launched this month.
The plan from the Biden Administration aims to forgive up to $20,000 for millions of eligible American students dealing with loan bills. Pressley and Warren made stops around Massachusetts to promote the program, making a stop at Massasoit Community College in Brockton to urge people to sign up.
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville was there when Pressley said the program gives students financial levity, in addition to helping lift some related distress.
"Not only from the burden of this financial strain— but the shame that many borrowers carry. I do not call this 'debt forgiveness' because borrowers did nothing wrong," Pressley said. On the temporary block of the program, Warren said student should still apply as soon as possible.
"So that the minute a court permits it, the Department of Education can hit the 'cancel' button and the debts will be canceled out— I would like to go do that," Warren said.
The two officials reiterated that the website to apply is studentaid.gov, where an advisory welcomes users saying that while the court order is in place, applications will still be reviewed while debt discharge is paused.
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Opponents of the program say Biden's plan goes around congressional authority and threatens state tax revenue that relies on investments into student loan providers. Warren disputed that notion while on tour, saying that the president is well within his right to launch the program.
"The President has the authority to do this, if we have courts that will apply the law— we're fine. Republicans will keep pushing on this. " Warren said.
WBZ's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports.
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