Anne Arundel Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) on May 24, 2023 forcefully opposed legislation to dismantle President Biden’s student loan debt relief program, repeal the student loan payment pause and cause confusion for public servants who have earned loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Repealing the Biden Administration’s student loan debt relief program and student loan repayment pause would force borrowers to unexpectedly confront months of accumulated payments and interest, threatening the financial security of millions of Americans and potentially reinstating discharged loans for more than 260,000 public servants who received forgiveness through the PSLF program last year.

“By rolling back recent regulations, this resolution could put millions of Americans in financial jeopardy, forcing them to make payments on loans they had been told were on pause. It would also delay PSLF borrowers from getting their forgiveness and turn back the clock on those who received loan forgiveness during the payment pause,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “This is not only confusing – it is just wrong. Rather than renege on the promise we made to these individuals, we must do everything we can to strengthen PSLF to give public service workers the relief they have earned.”

In 2007, Congressman Sarbanes authored the law creating the PSLF program to thank public servants whose careers, while rewarding and important, typically offer lower pay and fewer benefits than private sector careers. After years of advocating for improvements to the implementation of the program, Congressman Sarbanes applauded the Biden Administration’s actions to fix the program and make it easier for public servants to receive the student loan forgiveness they have earned. Many of the Biden Administration’s changes reflected those proposed in the What You Can Do for Your Country Act, legislation introduced by the Congressman in the 116th Congress.

H.J.Res. 45 would nullify recent student loan payment pause periods, causing millions of borrowers to pay several months of previously-paused payments and previously-relieved interest. It would also have the effect of revoking credit for monthly payments towards forgiveness that public servants and other individuals on income-driven repayment plans received during those months. 

Original source can be found here.