President Biden’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt per borrower has been blocked by Trump-appointed Judge Mark Pittman, who issued a ruling declaring the president's student loan forgiveness plan unlawful. In addition, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the injunction will remain in effect in response to a lawsuit filed by six GOP-led states.

Now more than ever, we need Congress to secure student debt relief for the millions of borrowers burdened by the increasingly unpayable student debt crisis.

As inflation hits a 40-year high, the price of college tuition has skyrocketed, and wages continue to plummet. Borrowers who once saw student loans as a lifeline to a better future and a form of investment are now unable to pay them off. After the Biden administration announced his cancellation plan, these borrowers were able to breathe a sigh of relief. Now, they are being pushed back into a state of fear and uncertainty, as President Biden's pathway to student loan cancellation exists in legal limbo.

If Congress is as eager to address the racial wealth gap, improve the economy, and tackle the student debt crisis as they claim, they should make student debt cancellation a top legislative priority, and leave room for no courts to legally challenge or block this relief.

Canceling student loan debt is not the socialist giveaway many GOP opponents want us to believe it is. Student loan debt does not impact many wealthy individuals. Instead, it disproportionately hurts vulnerable groups: Black communities, individuals with disabilities, and even older communities. Student loan debt has strayed away from being a form of investment needed to ensure higher wages and has become an immovable hurdle in the lives of millions.

Democrats and younger voters showed up in waves during the 2022 midterm elections -- many of whom were mobilized by key issues like college affordability. Democrats in Congress owe it to these voters to represent their interests and push for relief for borrowers who have fallen victim to an unjust system that serves the interests of predatory lending companies and student loan servicers over the interests of Americans seeking a better future.

Sign the petition to Congress: Pass student debt relief before the next Congress!