Student Loan Forgiveness Is Essential In These Uncertain Economic Times
President must act by his self-imposed August 31st deadline.
QUICK READ: For many years, Democrats have called a reduction in student loans today valued at over $1.7 billion. These loans have millions on the edges of poverty and from living the American dream. Today almost 40 million citizens are struggling under the burden of their debt and others have abandoned the idea of going to college because of the economic consequences.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
For many years, Democrats have called a reduction in student loans today valued at over $1.7 billion. These loans have millions on the edges of poverty and from living the American dream.
Today almost 40 million citizens view Higher Education is the backbone of our modern democracy, growing economy, and key to upward mobility for disadvantaged communities. Witness how the 1944 G.I. Bill sent millions of veterans to college free of charge.
Almost 80 years later, hundreds of millions of Americans have benefited from Federal education loans. In the process, 40 million have accumulated a staggering 1.7 billion dollars in debt. This debt has fallen disproportionately on disadvantaged groups pursuing the American dream.
During the 2020 campaign, President Biden promised to reduce student debt as a follow-up to President Bush’s 2007 decrees allowing the cancellation of student loans of nonprofit and government employees after ten years of payments.
To date, Biden has taken only minimal steps to achieve his objective. It is not sufficient simply to defer the debt done or eliminate it for the 1.3 million targeted, including those misled by for-profit universities.
Biden has promised to act on loan forgiveness by August 31st. The White House must move boldly. At a minimum, the President should cancel $10,000 per borrower for those earning under $150,000, eliminating the debt for almost 12 million citizens. He should also order the amortization of remaining loans at appreciably lower rates. Millions of people are struggling under the burden of their debt and others have abandoned the idea of going to college because of the economic consequences.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
You must demand that President Biden initiates a far-reaching program of student loan forgiveness. Authorize the amortization of remaining student loans at appreciably lower rates to help combat the spiralizing effects of inflation and encourage future students to attend colleges and universities. SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
You must demand that President Biden initiates a far-reaching program of student loan forgiveness. Authorize the amortization of remaining student loans at appreciably lower rates to help combat the spiralizing effects of inflation and encourage future students to attend colleges and universities.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
You must demand that President Biden initiates a far-reaching program of student loan forgiveness. Authorize the amortization of remaining student loans at appreciably lower rates to help combat the spiralizing effects of inflation and encourage future students to attend colleges and universities.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
You must demand that President Biden initiates a far-reaching program of student loan forgiveness. Authorize the amortization of remaining student loans at appreciably lower rates to help combat the spiralizing effects of inflation and encourage future students to attend colleges and universities.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
You must demand that President Biden initiates a far-reaching program of student loan forgiveness. Authorize the amortization of remaining student loans at appreciably lower rates to help combat the spiralizing effects of inflation and encourage future students to attend colleges and universities.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
You must demand that President Biden initiates a far-reaching program of student loan forgiveness. Authorize the amortization of remaining student loans at appreciably lower rates to help combat the spiralizing effects of inflation and encourage future students to attend colleges and universities.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
You must demand that President Biden initiates a far-reaching program of student loan forgiveness. Authorize the amortization of remaining student loans at appreciably lower rates to help combat the spiralizing effects of inflation and encourage future students to attend colleges and universities.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
You must demand that President Biden initiates a far-reaching program of student loan forgiveness. Authorize the amortization of remaining student loans at appreciably lower rates to help combat the spiralizing effects of inflation and encourage future students to attend colleges and universities.
ACTION THREE: Good Trouble.
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday. (DELAYED THIS AUGUST. WATCH THE WEBSITE FOR UPDATES.)
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Work to protect democracy in the House by electing Democrats Val Hoyle in District 4, Jamie McLeod-Skinner in District 5, and Andrea Salinas in Oregon’s new Congressional District 6.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon.
