After a recent Supreme Court ruling that effectively invalidated President Joe Biden’s initial student loan forgiveness plan, the White House is swiftly advancing a new approach to provide relief to individuals burdened by student debt.
In this instance, Biden intends to utilize a distinct legal avenue to potentially erase student loan debt – the Higher Education Act, as the Supreme Court determined that he lacked the authority to do so under the Heroes Act of 2003.
The latest relief plan is the focal point of an open hearing scheduled for Tuesday at the U.S. Department of Education, enabling members of the public to express their opinions on the proposed relief package and gain insight into its mechanics.
Mike Pierce, the Executive Director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, expressed appreciation for the Biden administration’s commitment to delivering debt relief following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling.
This hearing marks the inaugural phase of the process, with an opportunity for the public to submit their own comments expected in the near future. Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday:
Participation is open to all and free of charge. The virtual event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, and you can access the public hearing on student loan relief through Eventbrite.
Each speaker will be allotted four minutes to present their views.
Individuals who wished to offer comments at the hearing were required to send an email to negreghearing@ed.gov by noon on Monday.
For those who missed the deadline, it remains a worthwhile event to observe and listen to, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.
Furthermore, Kantrowitz mentioned that there will be a subsequent public comment period during which anyone can submit their preferences and ideas on the matter.
The outcome of Tuesday’s hearing is anticipated to influence Biden’s proposed new rule for providing relief to the affected individuals. The entire process is expected to span a year or longer, as opposed to Biden’s initial attempt to swiftly forgive student debt through executive order. This time, the administration is relying on the rulemaking procedure.
Kantrowitz suggested that if the Biden administration succeeds in granting loan forgiveness under the Higher Education Act (HEA), borrowers might potentially see relief around the time of the upcoming election.
