In a video posted on Twitter, Biden criticized Republican efforts in Congress to block his administration’s proposal, which included providing up to $10,000 in student debt relief and up to $20,000 for borrowers who received a Pell Grant.
President Biden has vetoed a bill that aimed to eliminate his $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan, asserting his determination to continue supporting the relief of college debt for millions of individuals in the United States
He emphasized that nearly 90% of these relief funds would benefit people earning less than $75,000 per year. The President affirmed his commitment to assisting working-class and middle-class families, stating that he would veto the bill.
Biden did not mention the Democratic senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana, who joined Republicans in voting to advance the bill. Similarly, he did not acknowledge Representatives Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, who voted for the bill alongside Republicans in the House of Representatives. The President criticized these lawmakers, highlighting their support for tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals while opposing relief measures for hardworking Americans burdened by student debt.
Biden expressed his unwavering dedication to aiding working and middle-class Americans in their recovery from the pandemic, particularly regarding student debt relief
He defended his actions and signed the veto, asserting that he would not apologize for prioritizing the well-being of these groups. This marks the fifth veto of Biden’s presidency.
Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, initially announced last year, aimed to cancel up to $10,000 in student loans for individuals earning less than $125,000 and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. However, the program was put on hold following a court ruling. The House and Senate utilized the Congressional Review Act to pass a resolution disapproving of the executive branch’s policy, but it is unlikely that Congress will gather the necessary two-thirds majority in both chambers to override Biden’s veto, given the predominantly partisan nature of the votes.
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