DOVER — Prior to Friday evening’s U.S. Court of Appeals ruling to pause the federal student loan debt forgiveness program, President Joe Biden visited Delaware State University to continue his administration’s mission to spread the word about the program.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit issued an administrative stay to the program while it considers an injunction from several Republican governors fighting against the relief. The decision comes after a lawsuit from the group of governors was dismissed in lower court.
President Biden’s speech was attended by many of Delaware’s top officials, including Gov. John Carney, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and Attorney General Kathy Jennings.
Delaware State University President Dr. Tony Allen, who worked for President Biden as a speechwriter when he served in the U.S. Senate, called the event a “history-making day” for the university.
“President Biden has done more for HBCUs than any other president in American history,” Dr. Allen said. “Just a month ago, President Biden announced the most comprehensive, far-reaching student loan debt relief plan in American history; one that will affect 43 million Americans.”
The Biden administration’s federal student debt relief program gives millions of Americans the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 in student loan debt cancellation; the program also gives Pell Grant recipients earning less than $125,000 the chance to receive up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness.
After acknowledging Delaware’s elected officials in the audience, President Biden spoke about what his administration has done for HBCUs, such as the $5.8 billion cumulative investment to HBCUs throughout the country. He applauded Delaware State University’s growth under Dr. Allen before pivoting to the topic of the federal student loan debt relief, which he called a “game-changer.”
“My commitment when I ran for president of the United States was that if I was elected, I would make the government work and deliver for the people; a simple application process keeps that commitment just as I kept my commitment to relieve student debt as borrowers recover from the economic crisis caused by the once in a lifetime pandemic,” President Biden said.
The application process for the program takes less than five minutes, according to President Biden, who said his administration has heard from more than 10,000 students who have taken advantage of the program. Those applying for loan forgiveness are only required to provide their name, Social Security number, date of birth and contact information. The application website can be accessed at Studentaid.gov/.
After outlining the program and its benefits, President Biden took time to talk about “who’s against helping millions of you who need the help.”
President Biden referred to the hypocrisy of various Republican lawmakers who claim student debt should not be forgiven, such as U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who had $180,000 in business loans forgiven through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, as well as U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who had $2,300,000 in loans forgiven through the program.
In his closing remarks, President Biden spoke about his administrations’ accomplishments and the issues he will continue to prioritize. After mentioning the various gun safety laws passed this year, President Biden said, “I’m coming back and I’m going to eliminate assault weapons.”
He continued, emphasizing the importance of addressing climate change, his commitment to expunging the records of those in jail for personal marijuana use or possession, and restoring a women’s right to choose. With the midterm elections looming, President Biden said if Democrats maintain the Senate and pick up a few seats, “we’re going to see through it that we completely codify Roe v. Wade in every state,” which received resounding applause from the hundreds in attendance.
“I’ve always believed your generation represents the best educated, most talented, least prejudiced generation in our history. That today we face an inflection point, one of those moments that only come every several generations, where there’s so much change happening technologically, politically, socially, environmentally,” President Biden said.
“I’m not saying you have to shoulder the burden on your own. The task at hand and the task ahead — work with all of us. What I’m saying is you represent the best of us. This generation and your generation will not be ignored. You will not be shunned, you will not be silenced. Just look at what happens when you speak out.”
Delaware State University’s campus was buzzing Friday afternoon, with hundreds of students hoping to attend President Biden’s appearance lined up in front of the university’s Education and Humanities Building Theater, where the speech was held.
Delaware State University freshmen Alexis Sumner, of New Castle County, and Kayla Henson, of Washington D.C., were both eager for the president’s appearance. Ms. Sumner said the energy on campus had been high since rumors of President Biden’s appearance surfaced two days ago. Ms. Henson agreed, adding that she had friends who were waiting in line to attend the speech for over an hour.
“It’s an honor for him to come to an HBCU. I mean, it’s Biden,” Ms. Sumner said. “It’s great that he’s giving back and I love it because it’s something that I can receive and benefit from.
“I think it’s really exciting. I know a lot of people stressing about their student debt and this helps them feel relieved. It’s another problem that students can take off their shoulders,” Ms. Henson said.
Staff reporter Joe Edelen can be reached at jedelen@iniusa.org
Follow @JoeEdelenDSN on Twitter
