More than 100 Democratic senators and U.S. House members sent a letter to President Biden yesterday urging him to renew the pandemic pause on student loan payments, citing continued economic difficulties for borrowers, the Wall Street Journal reported. In a letter whose signatories span the party’s ideological spectrum, the members asked Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to extend, for the seventh time, the moratorium on federal student loan payments that is set to expire at the end of August. If Biden doesn’t act, millions of borrowers will have to return to making monthly payments on their student debt that have been frozen since March 2020 just two months ahead of this fall’s midterm elections. The letter was led by Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). The signatories included moderates like Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) and progressives like Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). “Resuming student loan payments would force millions of borrowers to choose between paying their federal student loans or putting a roof over their heads, food on the table, or paying for childcare and health care,” the Democratic members wrote. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday pointed to Biden’s comments last week that he would address the issue before the Aug. 31 deadline. “He’ll make a decision,” Jean-Pierre said. “I’ll let him speak.” The Education Department said Tuesday that it would be in touch with borrowers once a decision is made.
