White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says President Joe Biden would be “happy” to meet his campaign promise to cancel up to $10,000 in student loan debt per borrower if Congress sends legislation to his desk to do so.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, a reporter noted that Psaki said the administration was working on a plan to help students repay their loans.
He asked, “What about President Biden’s campaign to forgive or cancel $10,000 of student debt? What is the message to those people who feel that he is yet to follow through on that promise?”
“If Congress sends him a bill, he’s happy to sign it,” Psaki responded.
Watch the video below:
REPORTER: "What about President Biden's campaign to forgive or cancel $10,000 of student debt? What is the message to those people who feel that he is yet to follow through on that promise?"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 14, 2021
PSAKI: "If Congress sends him a bill he's happy to sign it." pic.twitter.com/2u02HMUv13
During the campaign, Biden said he would cancel at least $10,000 in student loan debt per borrower. However, he has so far not followed through on his promise.
Last week, Psaki confirmed that the freeze on student loan payments would not be extended and will expire on Jan. 31, 2022. She has previously told reporters that the administration was “reviewing whether there are any steps he can take through executive action” regarding student loan debt cancellation.
However, she added, “He would welcome the opportunity to sign a bill sent to him by Congress.”
Earlier this month, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) called for Biden to cancel student loan debt which she said is “getting ridiculous.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have also called for Biden to unilaterally cancel $50,000 in student loan debt with a “flick of a pen.”
However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in July, “People think that the president of the United States has the power for debt forgiveness.”
“He does not. He can postpone, he can delay, but he does not have that power. That has to be an act of Congress,” she added.
