Bill Text: MI HR0161 | 2021-2022 | 101st Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution to support the U.S. Department of Education's decision to extend the pause on federal student loan payments.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 25-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-09-21 - Referred To Committee On Education [HR0161 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2021-HR0161-Introduced.html
house resolution no.161
Reps. Haadsma, Tyrone Carter, Coleman, Garza, Sowerby, Shannon, Breen, Bolden, Steenland, Rogers, Tate, Liberati, Clemente, Witwer, Brenda Carter, Cynthia Johnson, Cavanagh, Pohutsky, Brabec and Steckloff offered the following resolution:
Whereas, There is a student loan debt crisis in the United States, with more than 40 million people holding over $1.5 trillion in federal student loan debt. The average debt owed tops $30,000. Student loan debt is now the second highest consumer debt category behind mortgage debt; and
Whereas, The immense student loan debt burdens not only those people holding the debt, but the entire economy. Because of this debt, young Americans are struggling to become homeowners, save for retirement, and contribute to the economy in other ways. Borrowers who face difficulty paying their debt face delinquency and default. Moreover, borrowers of color are disproportionately impacted by student loan debt; and
Whereas, The COVID-19 Pandemic has exacerbated the burden of student loan debt. The economic damage brought by the pandemic has made it harder for people to find employment and created additional expenses, making it more difficult to pay already onerous student loan bills; and
Whereas, In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education initiated a pause on federal student loan payments in March of 2020 in order to provide emergency relief to borrowers under financial strain; and
Whereas, While the relief was set to expire in September of 2021, the Biden Administration extended the pause until January 31, 2022. The U.S. Department of Education has indicated that this will be the final extension of the payment pause; and
Whereas, The U.S. Department of Education extended the emergency relief to allow borrowers time to transition back into repayment and reduce the risk of default and delinquency. The extension of the payment pause is vital for millions of hard-working Americans who have suffered from financial hardship due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and allows them to focus on their families, health, and professions instead of student loans; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we support the U.S. Department of Education's decision to extend the pause on federal student loan payments; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of Education, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
