STATEMENT: “Canceling $10k of student debt is a dream deferred”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

August 24, 2022

PRESS CONTACT: 

Carmel Pryor press@allianceforyouthaction.org

WASHINGTON — Today, President Biden announced his Administration will provide up to $20,000 in debt cancellation to Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation to non-Pell Grant recipients for borrowers earning less than $125k a year. 

The Alliance for Youth Action Network, which is made up of 20 organizations mobilizing millions of young people, demands the Biden Administration continue to extend the student loan pause for as long as it takes until the implementation challenges are addressed so young people don’t fall through the cracks.

Dakota Hall, Executive Director for Alliance for Youth Action, said: 

“Let’s be clear: Canceling $10,000 is not enough. With student debt at nearly $2 trillion, this will not address the racial wealth gap nor help those in most need of relief. Since President Biden took office, youth activists and organizers throughout the Alliance Network have pressured the Biden Administration and Democrats in Congress to dream as big as our debt and take action, but this dream is too small. 

Now that Biden proved he has the authority and power to cancel student debt, he can do it again. Canceling $10k of student debt is a dream deferred. Dream bigger, Mr. President. We won’t stop fighting until we win a higher education system that works for all.” 

If you are interested in speaking with Executive Director Dakota Hall about the Dreams Not Debt campaign and youth organizers in the Alliance Network about their student debt relief work, please reach out to Carmel Pryor (press@allianceforyouthaction.org)

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