Rep. Payne, Jr.’s Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision to Reject Pres. Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program 

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today to deny student loan relief to more than 43 million American borrowers.  In the two cases, Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown, the Court said President Biden did not have the authority to eliminate $400 billion in student loan debt through the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (or HEROES) Act, which does allow student loan relief during an emergency. President Biden’s plan would have cancelled up to $20,000 in student loan debt for eligible borrowers.

“I am extremely disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to block student debt relief,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “American students and families are struggling with the higher costs of higher education.  This program would have helped them and the thousands of victims of for-profit schools recover from crippling student loan debt.  In addition, it would have been a tremendous benefit to Black Americans and families.  President Biden’s plan would have cut the loan balance for the average Black graduate in half and erased the student loan debt for 25 percent of Black borrowers.  The Biden Plan would have given all college graduates the financial freedom to pursue their dreams.  Instead, the current Supreme Court fails to support social justice and denies opportunities to minority communities.”