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Senate passes bill to block Biden’s student loan forgiveness program

Senate passes bill to block Biden’s student loan forgiveness program
I'm not too hopeful about it happening. It holds me back from saving money. It's *** waiting game for 43 million Americans who have federal student loans. Maybe the Biden administration will pull through, but you never know. President Joe Biden introduced the plan in two 2022 to cancel up to $20,000 in federal student debt. But borrowers are holding their breath after the plan was put on hold while it moves through the courts, it's now up to the Supreme Court to settle the program's legality is hope on the horizon. We'll explain what the plan means for all americans and the possible outcomes. This is clarified. Student loan debt has reached an all time high with the federal student loan debt totaling to *** whopping $1.6 trillion. On average, borrowers carry around $30,000 in debt. Several factors contribute to the mountain of debt, including an increase in tuition prices in just 30 years from the 1990s to the 2020s. The average tuition increase from around $4,000 to around $10,000 at public four-year colleges and from around $19,000, Around $38,000 at private nonprofit four-year colleges as tuition increases. So has the need to take out more loans to afford it. About 92% of all student debt is federal student loans, which means *** federal forgiveness program could change the lives of millions In October 2022, President Biden launched his forgiveness plan. Our student loan plan lowers costs for americans as they recover from the pandemic. Give everybody *** little more breathing. His plan would cancel $10,000 in federal suited debt for individuals with income below 125,000 *** year. Or households that make less than 250,000 *** year. And Pell Grant recipients could get 20 grand canceled. However, the plan was met with lawsuits filed by Republicans and conservative groups attempting to block it. What it does do is it increases inflationary pressures. It adds to the taxes that americans have to pay across the board. *** federal judge in texas ruled the plan overstepped the White House's Authority. *** federal appeals court in ST louis Missouri blocked the plan until *** ruling is made in wants to *** challenge from six Republican led states. It's pretty sad that we're arguing over forgiving people for wanting to have an education. Obviously that program would increase my chances to continue school and if it's like getting delayed and delayed, that's less encouraging the states argue the plan would irreparably harm their tax revenue and state run programs that service loans the biden administration appealed these cases to the Supreme Court, arguing it has the power to cancel large amounts of federal debt under the Heroes Act. *** 2003 law that allows the secretary of education to waive or modify the terms of federal student loans in times of war or national emergency. I want you all to hang in there and keep the faith and we believe we're gonna win that case. We're not gonna give up some worry. The plan will harm the economy and wonder who will pay for it. The Congressional Budget Office roughly estimates the forgiveness program could cost around $400 billion. The canceled loans would be added into the federal deficit, which measures how much the government exceeds its spending over its revenue, according to Forbes. Some experts are split on how significant the addition would be arguing the government has been running on *** deficit every year since 2001 without many adverse effects. To lower the deficit. The government either has to spend less or raise taxes, which means the general public could end up paying for it. However, President biden previously vowed not to increase income taxes on middle class americans. If the Supreme Court overturns the program, the Biden administration has proposed an alternative that updates their income-based repayment plan. The new plan could cut monthly payments in half from 10% of *** borrower's income to 5%. And the plan proposes forgiving debts after 10 years and payments for smaller loans. While the legal battle plays out, some financial experts say, to prepare for *** payment anyway. What I've been telling people to do is to actually pretend they're paying their loans. But instead of actually sending the money to the loan servicer to put it in some sort of interest bearing account. The student loan is *** big wait on people's shoulders and it's nice to have it reduced. There are other things that we'd like to get on with in our lives.
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Senate passes bill to block Biden’s student loan forgiveness program
Both the Senate and the House have now passed a bill to block President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, which promises to cancel up to $20,000 of debt for millions of borrowers but has been held up by courts.Video above: What happened to the federal student debt relief?The bill now goes to Biden's desk for his signature, but the president has pledged to veto the legislation. Some moderate Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the bill. The Senate passed the bill Thursday and the House passed the legislation last week.Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana voted for the bill, as well as Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent. The resolution did not pass with a veto-proof majority. Last week, Maine Rep. Jared Golden and Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, both Democrats, also voted for the bill in the House.Meanwhile, borrowers are still awaiting a Supreme Court decision, which will determine whether the student loan forgiveness program can take effect. The justices are expected to rule in late June or early July.Related video above: Steps to prepare for student loan payments to start back upThe White House has argued that the proposal to cancel some student debt will help protect borrowers from defaulting when student loan payments resume later this year after a yearslong pandemic-related pause. But Republicans argue that the student loan forgiveness program is unlawful and shifts the cost of the debt to taxpayers who chose not to go to college or already paid off their student loans. Blocking the program could reduce the deficit by nearly $320 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.Republican lawmakers introduced their joint resolution in late March, using the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to roll back regulations from the executive branch without needing to clear the 60-vote threshold in the Senate that is necessary for most legislation.If the student loan forgiveness program is allowed to move forward, individual borrowers who made less than $125,000 in either 2020 or 2021 and married couples or heads of households who made less than $250,000 a year could see up to $10,000 of their federal student loan debt forgiven.If a qualifying borrower also received a federal Pell Grant while enrolled in college, the individual is eligible for up to $20,000 of debt forgiveness.While the debt relief would help borrowers with student loans now, the program would not change the cost of college in the future – and some critics argue that it could even lead to an increase in tuition.Where do legal challenges to the debt relief program stand?In February, the Supreme Court heard two legal challenges to Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. One was filed by six Republican-led states, and the other was brought by two student loan borrowers who did not qualify for the full benefits of the program. The individuals are backed by the Job Creators Network Foundation, a conservative organization.The lawsuits argue that the Biden administration is abusing its power and using the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext for fulfilling the president’s campaign pledge to cancel student debt.The White House has said that it received 26 million applications before a lower court in Texas put a nationwide block on the program in November, and that 16 million of those applications have been approved for relief.No debt has been canceled yet. But if the Supreme Court allows the program to take effect, it’s possible the government moves quickly to forgive those debts.Related video above: States where Biden's student loan forgiveness could have the most impactIf the justices strike down Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, it could be possible for the administration to make some modifications to the policy and try again – though that process could take months.Biden’s other student debt policiesBiden has extended the pause on federal student loan payments several times. Accounts have been frozen and most federal borrowers have not been required to make a payment for more than three years.But the pause is set to end later this year. The Biden administration has tied the restart date to the litigation over the separate student loan forgiveness program. Payments are set to resume 60 days after the Supreme Court issues its ruling or 60 days after June 30, whichever comes first. A bill to address the debt ceiling, which is currently making its way through Congress, would also prohibit another extension.The Biden administration has also made some lesser-known but potentially longer-lasting changes to the federal student loan system.New rules set to take effect in July could broaden eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which is aimed at helping government and nonprofit workers. And a new income-driven repayment plan proposal which is meant to lower eligible borrowers’ monthly payments and reduce the amount they pay back over time. Parts of that new repayment plan are expected to go into effect later this year.The Department of Education has also made it easier for borrowers who were misled by their for-profit college to apply for student loan forgiveness under a program known as borrower defense to repayment, as well as for those who are permanently disabled.Altogether, the Biden administration has approved more than $66 billion in targeted loan relief to nearly 2.2 million borrowers.

Both the Senate and the House have now passed a bill to block President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, which promises to cancel up to $20,000 of debt for millions of borrowers but has been held up by courts.

Video above: What happened to the federal student debt relief?

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The bill now goes to Biden's desk for his signature, but the president has pledged to veto the legislation.

Some moderate Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the bill. The Senate passed the bill Thursday and the House passed the legislation last week.

Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana voted for the bill, as well as Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent. The resolution did not pass with a veto-proof majority.

Last week, Maine Rep. Jared Golden and Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, both Democrats, also voted for the bill in the House.

Meanwhile, borrowers are still awaiting a Supreme Court decision, which will determine whether the student loan forgiveness program can take effect. The justices are expected to rule in late June or early July.

Related video above: Steps to prepare for student loan payments to start back up

The White House has argued that the proposal to cancel some student debt will help protect borrowers from defaulting when student loan payments resume later this year after a yearslong pandemic-related pause.

But Republicans argue that the student loan forgiveness program is unlawful and shifts the cost of the debt to taxpayers who chose not to go to college or already paid off their student loans. Blocking the program could reduce the deficit by nearly $320 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Republican lawmakers introduced their joint resolution in late March, using the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to roll back regulations from the executive branch without needing to clear the 60-vote threshold in the Senate that is necessary for most legislation.

If the student loan forgiveness program is allowed to move forward, individual borrowers who made less than $125,000 in either 2020 or 2021 and married couples or heads of households who made less than $250,000 a year could see up to $10,000 of their federal student loan debt forgiven.

If a qualifying borrower also received a federal Pell Grant while enrolled in college, the individual is eligible for up to $20,000 of debt forgiveness.

While the debt relief would help borrowers with student loans now, the program would not change the cost of college in the future – and some critics argue that it could even lead to an increase in tuition.

Where do legal challenges to the debt relief program stand?

In February, the Supreme Court heard two legal challenges to Biden’s student loan forgiveness program. One was filed by six Republican-led states, and the other was brought by two student loan borrowers who did not qualify for the full benefits of the program. The individuals are backed by the Job Creators Network Foundation, a conservative organization.

The lawsuits argue that the Biden administration is abusing its power and using the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext for fulfilling the president’s campaign pledge to cancel student debt.

The White House has said that it received 26 million applications before a lower court in Texas put a nationwide block on the program in November, and that 16 million of those applications have been approved for relief.

No debt has been canceled yet. But if the Supreme Court allows the program to take effect, it’s possible the government moves quickly to forgive those debts.

Related video above: States where Biden's student loan forgiveness could have the most impact

If the justices strike down Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, it could be possible for the administration to make some modifications to the policy and try again – though that process could take months.

Biden’s other student debt policies

Biden has extended the pause on federal student loan payments several times. Accounts have been frozen and most federal borrowers have not been required to make a payment for more than three years.

But the pause is set to end later this year.

The Biden administration has tied the restart date to the litigation over the separate student loan forgiveness program. Payments are set to resume 60 days after the Supreme Court issues its ruling or 60 days after June 30, whichever comes first. A bill to address the debt ceiling, which is currently making its way through Congress, would also prohibit another extension.

The Biden administration has also made some lesser-known but potentially longer-lasting changes to the federal student loan system.

New rules set to take effect in July could broaden eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which is aimed at helping government and nonprofit workers. And a new income-driven repayment plan proposal which is meant to lower eligible borrowers’ monthly payments and reduce the amount they pay back over time. Parts of that new repayment plan are expected to go into effect later this year.

The Department of Education has also made it easier for borrowers who were misled by their for-profit college to apply for student loan forgiveness under a program known as borrower defense to repayment, as well as for those who are permanently disabled.

Altogether, the Biden administration has approved more than $66 billion in targeted loan relief to nearly 2.2 million borrowers.