[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 177 (Wednesday, November 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H8512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DELIVERING STUDENT DEBT RELIEF

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Ms. Bush) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BUSH. Mr. Speaker, St. Louis and I rise today in full support of 
President Biden's student debt relief plan in the face of Republican 
efforts to block economic relief for millions of people.
  The $1.9 trillion student debt crisis has cost people more than just 
money. It has stripped countless people of the opportunity to start a 
family, buy a home, start a business, or further their education.
  My office has been collecting heartbreaking stories from constituents 
across Missouri's First District about how student debt relief would 
impact their lives for the better. Here are some of their stories.
  Michelle H. writes: ``The ongoing gloom and constant worry of student 
loan debt will lessen significantly. Even if some of the debt I have 
accumulated through student loans was forgiven, my entire quality of 
life will drastically increase, and my mental health would also 
increase. This would be absolutely life-changing.''
  Amy V. notes: ``We will be able to buy a house, my first mortgage. 
This will allow me to pay off other bills and increase my credit score. 
I cannot afford the monthly payment of over $900 per month.''
  Alison M. writes: ``I have been swimming in debt since I graduated 
college with a degree and a job. At one point, I couldn't even afford 
to move out of my parents' because my student loans were over $1,000. 
Sallie Mae ruined my credit score, and now that I finally have somewhat 
of a stable income. If this debt relief comes through, I can actually 
see a light at the end of still a long tunnel. But, before, I never 
even thought there was such a light.''
  These are just three of the 43 million borrowers who are depending on 
transformative student debt relief measures that will change their 
lives forever.
  I share my own personal story of my journey grappling with immense 
student loan debt. As a single mom of two, working an hourly job that 
made less than $10 an hour, even after working there for 10 years, I 
struggled to provide for my family and myself. I knew I needed a 
change, a career change, but that meant I would need to go back to 
school and that I would ultimately incur student debt.
  I thought that once I graduated and got a steady job, I would be able 
to pay it back quickly. So, I enrolled in nursing school, took out 
loans, and a few years later, I was a registered nurse.

                              {time}  1030

  For the most part, everything went as I expected, and it wasn't until 
I was faced with that first payment that I realized just how 
astronomical this debt burden became. Even with a job that paid more 
money than I had ever made before, it still felt impossible to be able 
to pay it off.
  Ultimately, I was able to pay off my student loans, but it took 
years. During those years I struggled to pay these loans, I faced 
multiple eviction notices and was evicted, had difficulty feeding my 
two babies and affording childcare as I worked long and odd hours as a 
nurse. It was hard, and at times it felt impossible. I would have 
welcomed debt relief, and it is why I am pushing so hard to remove that 
economic burden for current and future generations.
  Education should be affordable, equitable, and accessible to 
absolutely everyone. It should lead to prosperity and opportunity, not 
debt.
  I share these stories with you, my colleagues, and implore us all to 
continue supporting the Biden administration in backing down the dark 
money and right-wing attacks on student debt relief and to continue 
standing with borrowers by extending the payment pause beyond December 
31st and using every single legal authority to deliver student debt 
relief. We have a responsibility and an obligation to cancel student 
debt now.

                          ____________________