Mayor's Office

A diverse group of 20 cities and counties representing more than 1.2 million people with nearly $50 billion in student loan debt sent a letter to President Biden applauding him for his announced intentions to use the Higher Education Act to enact a new broad debt relief plan. Importantly, these local elected leaders call on the President to swiftly deliver on his promised student debt cancelation, alleviating the enormous negative impacts on individual borrowers, families, and local economies wrought by the out-of-control $1.7 trillion student debt crisis.

The letter reads in part:

On behalf of more than 1.2 million student loan borrowers in 20 cities and counties with nearly $50B in student debt, we write to thank you for continuing to fight on behalf of student loan borrowers by announcing plans to enact a new debt relief plan under the Higher Education Act. Given the crushing weight of the student debt crisis on borrowers and their communities, and the extended economic limbo millions of borrowers have been forced to endure as partisan lawsuits blocked transformative debt relief in the courts, we urge you to continue the necessary work to deliver on your promise of up to $20,000 in student debt relief and enact your new debt relief plan as swiftly as possible.

Read the full letter here.