Press Releases

Maine’s First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree today voiced her strong opposition to House Republicans’ joint resolution, H.J. Res. 45, that would overturn the Biden Administration’s student loan payment pause and one-time student loan relief. After voting against the resolution, Pingree released the following statement:

“President Biden’s zero-interest student loan payment pause has been a lifeline for 43 million borrowers across the country, including 94,000 of my constituents. The resolution House Republicans just passed would roll back at least four months of paused payments and accrued interest—a huge financial strain for the majority of Americans who already live paycheck to paycheck. This resolution is completely out-of-touch with the financial burden student loans have put on working families.”

Ahead of the vote, Pingree shared a video message on social media. Click here to watch.

In August 2022, the Biden Administration announced a plan to forgive up to $10,000 of student loan debt for non-Pell Grant recipients and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, for borrowers with individual income under $125,000. This would significantly lessen our nation’s burden of student debt, as borrowers collectively owe more than $1.6 trillion. House Democrats have already voted unanimously against rescinding this debt relief when the Caucus opposed the Default on America Act. 

Throughout the pandemic, Pingree pushed the Biden administration to waive interest on federal student loans and continue to pause payments during the public health emergency. In the 117th Congress, Pingree cosponsored the Zero-Percent Student Loan Refinancing Act, which would allow Americans with student loans to refinance to an interest rate of 0% until December 31, 2024, giving them the same opportunity to take advantage of the current low-rate environment that so many borrowers in other sectors of the economy have utilized.

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