debt cancellation Archives - Americans for Financial Reform

photo of a student borrower looking sadly at the sky - Photo by Matese Fields on Unsplash

Statement: Narrowing student debt cancellation in the Heroes Act leaves out millions and surrenders a key tool for economic stimulus

As Congress considers the next steps to rebuild the U.S. economy, student debt cancellation must remain a priority. Speaker Pelosi said that the third pillar of the Heroes Act is “putting much-needed money into the pockets of the American people.” Narrowing the student debt cancellation provisions in the HEROES Act surrenders a crucial tool to address this economic crisis that would do exactly that.

students in graduation cap and gowns - Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash

Statement on the Student Loan Cancellation Provisions of the HEROES Act

The HEROES Act provides needed relief to the 45 million student loan borrowers in the U.S., tackling the ongoing economic fallout caused by the coronavirus with an approach that research shows would boost the economy overall. HEROES includes $10,000 in federal student debt cancellation, which would leave as estimated 16 million borrowers completely debt-free. It also extends the CARES Act suspension of student loan payments to September 2021, giving borrowers a chance to recover on the same timeline the economy is projected to need to return to pre-coronavirus productivity.

AFR Statement: Department of Education’s approach to relief to Corinthian students remains far too narrow

“We continue to believe that the Department should be providing automatic group relief for wronged Corinthian students, rather than pursuing the application-based, piecemeal approach it has taken to discharges thus far.”