Congressional Record, December 2, 2021 — House
Summary
This is H6895 of the Congressional Record, House, December 2, 2021, with interleaved columns of one-minute statements. The statements include a tribute to Gordon on his 50th year on the board of the Historic Arkansas Museum, remarks on a gun storage safety bill introduced after a school shooting in Michigan, and remarks on forest management and fire danger in which a speaker says over a million acres in his district burned this year. Ms. Salazar recognizes Temple Beth Am in Miami, and Mr. Grothman discusses tasks to do over the recess. Under the heading Cancel Student Loan Debt, the Chair recognizes Mr. Bowman for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader, with the views attributed to the speakers.
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“Congressional Record, December 2, 2021 — House.”
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December 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6895
his hard work with the Historic Arkan- dies in schools with children dying at This is more or less what the average
sas Museum in Little Rock. Currently, the hands of guns. forest looks like that is unmanaged.
Gordon serves as the secretary of the I offer my deepest sympathy for the You can hardly see through it. You
Historic Arkansas Museum Commis- loss of the beautiful, precious people in could never ride a horse through it. An
sion. This year will mark Gordon’s 50th Michigan. I think a simple addition to owl can hardly fly through the thing.
year on the museum’s board. this whole idea of the gun safety dis- So what does this mean, an over-
For half of those years, I have been cussion—I intend to introduce a bill crowded forest? It means fire danger.
fortunate to work alongside Gordon, an that is in tribute to Kimberly Vaughan These trees compete for a limited
exceptional attorney and civic leader. who died in Santa Fe at the hands of a amount of water supply. Insects attack
He has devoted his adult life to pre- young gunman. I want to just simply and weaken trees because they don’t
serving Arkansas’ rich heritage for our say, Store your guns. have enough water and soil nutrients.
kids. This storage act in honor of her name The right amount of trees per acre
I am proud to have served at his side responds to the tragedy that just hap- would look something like this. See,
in this worthy mission. I have seen pened as well because it requires manu- we are not cutting all the trees from
firsthand the impact that he has made facturers and retailers to sell guns Mexico to the Canadian border, we are
on our State and the legacy that he is with storage safety devices to ensure leaving some behind, a healthier more
preserving. that those penalties for not doing so sustainable forest. We will have much
Congratulations, Gordon, on 50 years are ahead of the loss of life; providing more success and much less fire dan-
educating Arkansans about our rich tax credits for those who do that; and ger.
history and preserving it for the next as well, providing grants for more in- Indeed, over a million acres in my
generation. I am thankful for your formation about safety devices. district burned this year—a million
service. We have to do whatever we can to acres. That is terrible for water qual-
save the lives of our children. ity, air quality, for the wildlife, and for
f
f the habitat. We could do so much bet-
TEMPLE BETH AM WELCOMES ter and put people back to work man-
JEWISH PEOPLE FROM ALL TASKS TO DO OVER THE RECESS
(Mr. GROTHMAN asked and was aging our forests in a way that is bet-
WALKS OF LIFE ter for everybody with access to the
given permission to address the House
(Ms. SALAZAR asked and was given forest. Let’s get on it.
for 1 minute.)
permission to address the House for 1 Mr. GROTHMAN. Madam Speaker, I f
minute.) think after next week we are going to
Ms. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I CANCEL STUDENT LOAN DEBT
spend about 3 weeks back in the dis-
rise today, on the fifth day of Hanuk- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms.
trict. It would be nice if people would
kah, to give special recognition to my STRICKLAND). Under the Speaker’s an-
go down to the southern border, as I
Jewish community in Florida’s 27th nounced policy of January 4, 2021, the
did, and look at the path into Yuma,
Congressional District. gentleman from New York (Mr. BOW-
Texas, in which all the photo IDs are
As their Congresswoman, I have the MAN) is recognized for 60 minutes as the
being thrown aside by the people who
distinct honor of representing one of designee of the majority leader.
want to forget their past and start a
the largest Jewish communities in the GENERAL LEAVE
new life in America.
country, which includes Temple Beth I also hope when people go back Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask
Am, one of the largest congregations in home, they spend some time with the unanimous consent that all Members
the southeast United States. farmers and with the manufacturers have 5 legislative days in which to re-
For over 65 years, Temple Beth Am that make our country run. They will vise and extend their remarks and in-
has welcomed Jewish people from all find that the cost of metals used in clude extraneous material on the sub-
walks of life to worship, to study, and manufacturing—and I have a big manu- ject of my Special Order.
to seek refuge. For over six decades, facturing district—are sometimes The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there
the synagogue has provided spiritual going up five or six times. Not 5 or 6 objection to the request of the gen-
guidance and served the Miami com- percent, five or six times. tleman from New York?
munity in so many ways. They will find that mucking around There was no objection.
Much of this would have never hap- with the free market of trucking in Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker,
pened without the leadership of Beth California has resulted in huge short- today, we are focused on Federal stu-
Am Senior Rabbi, Jeremy Barras. ages of various different things that we dent loans.
There are so many great spiritual Jew- need, including chemicals needed for This global pandemic, which is very
ish leaders in our community along agriculture, for things like planting much still with us, has been hard on
with Rabbi Barras; Rabbi Yitzi Zweig soybeans and corn. Some farmers are Americans in so many ways. One
of the Talmudic University Yeshiva in afraid that sometime in the next year source of relief the Federal Govern-
Miami Beach; Rabbi Yossi Harlig of the we are going to have a food shortage. ment has been able to provide is the
Chabad Center of Kendall and They will find out that the goal of pause on Federal student loan pay-
Pinecrest; and Rabbi Eliot Pearlson of taking away fossil fuels is going to re- ments. That pause is scheduled to end
Temple Menorah in Miami Beach. They sult in significant increases in heating after January, and tens of millions of
are esteemed local leaders and pillars oil, which is particularly a problem in Americans will have to resume month-
of the Miami Jewish community, and I northern Wisconsin. ly payments on their loans.
call them my friends. Millions of people will yet again be
f
Over the next few days, our Jewish faced with terrible choices between
brothers and sisters all over the world THE NEED FOR BETTER FOREST paying off their loans and putting food
will continue to celebrate the Festival MANAGEMENT on the table, paying for childcare, or
of Lights, God permitting. I offer my (Mr. LAMALFA asked and was given paying medical bills. Student debt is a
best wishes to all of them. permission to address the House for 1 national crisis. It was a crisis before
f minute and to revise and extend his re- the COVID–19 pandemic and it is an
marks.) even bigger one now.
GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS Mr. LAMALFA. Madam Speaker, as I can’t think of a better opportunity
(Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was we reflect upon yet another horrific to cancel student loan debt. Today,
given permission to address the House fire season in California and the West, over 40 million borrowers owe a com-
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for 1 minute and to revise and extend we cannot allow ourselves to forget or bined $1.8 trillion in loans, and the
her remarks.) get complacent. share of people who are able to make
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, This week, we have had several good payments high enough to reduce their
I have been here since the Columbine meetings here in D.C. with various principal balance has been rapidly de-
tragedy, which is more than 20 years groups talking about the need for bet- clining. That means for years people
ago. I have faced a mountain of trage- ter forest management. have been doing all they can to make
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H6896 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 2, 2021
monthly payments but can only afford ice rather than one that just pays the are facing as they think about what
to keep up with the interest that ac- bills. This freedom will improve one’s they are going to do when this morato-
crues. quality of life and provide the self-de- rium expires and how they are going to
If someone took out a $30,000 loan to termination necessary for quality, make these payments. Over one-quar-
go to a public State university but can long-term planning. ter of borrowers expect at least one-
only afford the minimum monthly pay- Canceling student debt would go a third of their income will go toward
ments to cover interest, they can be long way in reducing the racial wealth student loans once the pause ends, and
paying hundreds of dollars every gap and the racial homeownership gap they are terrified. Eighty-nine percent
month for years without seeing the and would help address many of the of full-time employed borrowers are ex-
total amount they owe go down at all. systemic barriers Black and Brown pecting to be financially insecure come
In fact, many borrowers see their debt families face. February 1.
increase because they can’t even keep It is time to cancel this predatory While that number is concerning, it
up with the interest. student debt to give the American peo- should not be surprising. The economic
ple a fresh start and accelerate both
b 1845 toll of the pandemic has made it tough
the economic and social well-being of for one-quarter of all adults to pay
Far too often it can take a borrower our Nation. Our predatory debt is an
over a decade to pay off their loans, their bills. To make ends meet, people
unfair and unjust burden that has been have stayed afloat by using the money
and many borrowers end up defaulting hanging over the heads of borrowers
because they simply cannot make ends that would have gone to student loan
since they decided to pursue an edu- payments on all the other essential
meet with such high payments. This cation.
can have lasting impacts on a person’s costs that they have. Eighty-seven per-
That is why I, along with many Mem-
financial, mental, and physical health cent of borrowers report using these
bers you will hear tonight, Madam
which taken all together makes it savings to pay off other bills.
Speaker, have been calling on Presi-
harder for people to fully participate in dent Biden to use his executive author- This is personal. My office recently
the economy over the long-term. ity to cancel Federal student loans. heard from a mother and a veteran in
For example, Madam Speaker, you This authority is already being used the Seattle area who was delinquent in
can’t get a Small Business Administra- right now to cancel the interest owed her payments even before the first case
tion loan if you have defaulted on any on all Federal student loans during the of COVID–19 hit our country. She is
loan in the past 7 years. So many of pandemic. Now it is time to use that glad that the pause has given her a
our family members, friends, and same authority to cancel all Federal chance to catch up on payments, but
neighbors face additional barriers to student debts. she is concerned that very soon she
starting businesses because of student Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- will have to choose between paying her
debt. They face additional barriers to tlewoman from Washington (Ms. mortgage and repaying her student
save for retirement, buying homes, JAYAPAL), who will highlight many loans after January. Not having to
taking care of their health and putting ways canceling students loan debt is make student loan payments has
off doctors’ visits or necessary pre- urgently needed. Congresswoman helped her and her family. But should
scriptions, starting families, or pur- JAYAPAL will address this House on this pause end without student debt
suing a career they are passionate this very important issue. cancelation, she and her children will
about. Ms. JAYAPAL. Madam Speaker, I be on the path to financial ruin. We
Students took these risks in their thank my colleague, Representative have the power to make sure that does
pursuit of the American Dream BOWMAN, for his incredible leadership. not happen. This administration has
through obtaining a college degree. It has been a true honor to serve with the power to make sure that does not
Students across America are doing ex- the gentleman in the Progressive Cau- happen.
actly what we asked them to do; work cus, this Special Order hour has always The good news is that this adminis-
hard, study and learn deeply, grow been the Progressive Caucus’ Special tration does have, as my colleague
your mind, develop your skills, and ex- Order hour led in his very capable said, the authority to do what is right
pand your world view. Students across hands and also to be able to serve with for families like hers and like so many
America took these steps because we him on the Education and Labor Com- that I have been hearing from. Clearly,
told them that education, particularly mittee. The gentleman brings tremen- if the pause on student loans and inter-
higher education, would be the great dous power to the actual experience of est was necessary to help families sus-
equalizer. We told them their hard education through his own background. tain themselves through the pandemic,
work would open doors for the rest of I am so proud to serve with the gen- then ending it without any form of per-
their lives. tleman. manent student debt relief would be
Instead, we have shut those doors in Madam Speaker, I, too, am here to harmful, especially as many families
their faces one by one, and we have dis- talk about the need to cancel student are continuing to struggle during this
proportionately done this to Black and debt. This is a tremendous crisis for 36 ongoing crisis.
Latino, indigenous, and poor students. million Americans who are being
We have preyed upon our most vulner- crushed by $1.8 trillion in student loan Consider the tremendous strides the
able kids. debt. Biden administration has made toward
The student debt crisis is a racial When I first ran for Congress in 2016, reviving our struggling economy: low
justice issue, and we cannot talk about the number was $1.2 trillion; then it unemployment, reopened businesses,
the problem nor the solutions without was $1.3 trillion, $1.5 trillion, now it is and vaccinations driving consumer de-
centering the experiences of students almost $1.8 trillion in student loan mand. Eliminating $50,000, at least, of
and families of color and others who debt. Working families and students student debt per borrower would in-
come from marginalized communities. are counting on this administration to crease average yearly pay by $3,000
Canceling student debt would mean build us all back better. which in turn would increase GDP by
putting money back into people’s pock- But many families like those I rep- $1 trillion.
ets and improving the overall economy. resent in Seattle cannot thrive with Cancelation would also solidify ac-
This is money that can be used to pay the crippling burden of student loan cess to important paths for building
for childcare so that parents can reen- debt holding them back at every single the middle class which have been de-
ter the workforce and actually use the turn. layed due to student loan debt. More
degree they went into debt for in the With the student loan moratorium than 80 percent of borrowers with stu-
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first place. This is money that can be expiring at the end of January, bor- dent loan debt report that that debt is
used to start a business or buy a house rowers are literally just a few weeks holding them back from being able to
or pay for necessary healthcare. away from resuming to pay substantial afford a home. Many would be in a bet-
This newfound freedom will open the amounts of their income toward stu- ter position to begin saving for home-
door to pursue a passion or a purpose dent loan payments and the crises that ownership as well as retirement or
like teaching, nursing, or public serv- they are facing, the trauma that they starting a business.
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December 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6897
Student loan forgiveness would also them out could be indebted for an en- continue to be the biggest employers in
help close the wealth gap, as Mr. BOW- tire life. So this is not the way a coun- America, but it would also help people
MAN pointed out, especially in commu- try should move forward. come back to the workforce.
nities of color. Black, Latinx, and Na- For more than a decade, mounting I look forward to working with my
tive borrowers are more likely to student loan debt has made it difficult colleagues in the Congressional Pro-
struggle with repayments and con- for many Americans to purchase a gressive Caucus to provide relief and
sequently default on their loans at home, to start their own business, to economic justice to the millions upon
higher rates. Further, it is estimated move forward and aspire to be part of millions of struggling debt owners
that Black borrowers on average owe the middle class or the advancement under a mountain of student debt.
nearly $53,000 in student debt, the high- that this Nation should promise all its Madam Speaker, I thank my distin-
est compared to other communities. In people. guished colleague from the Bronx, and
fact, the average student debt for They have difficulties saving for the from Mount Vernon, and from Rock-
Black households tripled in the 12 future of their families, so this is a land County, and all the other areas
years following the 2008 recession with transgenerational crisis. It is far be- that the gentleman distinguishes and
student debt held by Black borrowers yond one generation. represents for yielding to me.
being triple what White borrowers owe Recent data shows that borrowers in Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I
just 4 years after graduating. the United States owe collectively $1.6 thank Mr. ESPAILLAT for his kind
So, yes, this is clearly a matter of ra- trillion in Federal and private student words. Before he goes, I want to under-
cial and economic justice. loan debt. With the surge of the score what he said about people invest-
Low-income and middle-class Ameri- coronavirus cases and the rise in unem- ing in their own communities when
cans are encouraged to pursue higher ployment claims, the student loan cri- they have more money in their pock-
education as a tool for economic and sis only worsened. It became a very ets. The gentleman just made me think
social mobility. But here is the catch, deep crisis not only impacting Amer- of all the young children who want to
the enduring weight of student loan ican futures but putting in jeopardy take art classes, drama classes, and
debt negates opportunities for many the immediate needs and well-being of swimming lessons, and receive tutor-
borrowers to truly transform their American families. ing, and all the things that families
As a strong proponent of student debt cannot afford because they are trying
lives and our country.
cancelation, I was proud to join my to pay down their student debt.
As the lead sponsor of the College for
colleagues in responding to the grow- They can reinvest in their commu-
All Act in the House and a proud co-
ing crisis. Democrats in the House of nities, reinvest in their children, and
sponsor of the debt cancelation bill
Representatives led a bipartisan effort their children will be much less likely
from Representative OMAR, I know that
to provide economic assistance and re- to commit harm to themselves or their
eliminating student loan debt will bet-
lief to student borrowers in the CARES communities because they have been
ter ensure that earning a degree re-
Act which was extended in the Amer- developed and nurtured from an early
mains a strong path to social mobility
ican Rescue Plan. So we have a record, age.
and economic security, particularly I thank the gentleman so much for
Madam Speaker, of trying to throw a
during this pivotal moment for our re- his remarks, my brother representing
lifeline to all these borrowers who are
covery. That is why the administration the Bronx, Manhattan, and the historic
drowning in debt.
should cancel student loan debt. Washington Heights. We cannot forget
Earlier this year I was proud to join
They can start with immediately that, Brother.
my colleagues in calling for a bold plan
eliminating at least $50,000 in student Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen-
to tackle the student loan debt crisis
loan debt per borrower before the pay- tlewoman from Georgia (Ms. WIL-
and cancel up to $50,000 in student loan
ments begin again. It is a single action LIAMS), my sister and fellow freshman.
debt for Federal student loan bor-
that can cement progress for an entire Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam
rowers.
generation of Americans and those who Failure to cancel student loan debt Speaker, I thank Representative BOW-
come after that. So let’s deliver that fi- will continue to greatly affect the MAN for yielding.
nancial breathing room. Let’s deliver quality of life for millions of Ameri- I am here today with the urgent re-
on racial equity and economic security cans. Like the coronavirus pandemic, quest that the Biden administration
by canceling student loan debt. student debt disproportionately affects cancel the student debt obligations
Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I that burden 44.7 million Americans. I
low-income, working class, and com-
thank Congresswoman JAYAPAL for her am one of these 44.7 million Americans
munities of color. We must work to
remarks, and I thank her for her con- who is still paying off student loans
create a more equitable outcome for
gressional leadership as the chair of well after our college days.
everyone.
the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Student loan cancelation isn’t only I rise today to elevate the voices of
I thank the gentlewoman for lending relief for debt holders, it is also one of the numerous constituents who con-
her voice and vision to this very impor- the most effective ways to stimulate tinuously call me, Facebook me, and
tant issue. our economy. Let’s be smart about DM me to tell me their stories, includ-
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- this, Madam Speaker. Let’s be smart ing Natalie from Morningside and
tleman from New York (Mr. about this. Let’s unshackle and unsad- Jacob from Atlanta, both of whom told
ESPAILLAT), who represents the Boogie dle people from their debt so they can me that they are desperate for relief
Down Bronx right next door to me. have just a little bit more money in and that they only see heartache in
Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I their futures, all thanks to their stu-
their pocket and spend it in local busi-
thank Representative BOWMAN for dent loan debt.
nesses.
yielding. Don’t forget, I also represent But we know that it doesn’t have to
Manhattan. I am a Latin from Manhat- b 1900 be this way. During the COVID–19 pan-
tan. They will not run away on a Euro- demic, a financial lifeline was extended
Madam Speaker, I thank the gen- pean vacation. They will not go to the to the American people with emer-
tleman for giving me the opportunity South of France. They will go to the gency student loan relief. But that life-
to address this incredible issue. local store and spend their money line is going to end in just 2 short
Madam Speaker, I rise today in sup- there on emergency items, milk, Pam- months.
port of canceling student debt for over pers, and food. So let’s help them out. Now that we have seen that being
43 million Americans. In fact, Madam When Americans aren’t burdened by free of the burden of student loan debt
Speaker, student debt for some time student loans, they are more easily is possible, we must deliver for the
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now has surpassed credit card debt for able to start businesses and help their American people and cancel student
America. It is mind-boggling to con- families. Removing the financial bar- debt permanently.
sider that for many Americans they riers allows Americans to more easily Student debt is disproportionately
could be indebted for a significant pe- join the workforce, as well. held by Black borrowers and continues
riod of their adult lifespan. Those who So not only will it stimulate local to worsen the racial wealth gap. No-
have children and then choose to help businesses and small businesses, which where is it more obvious to have this
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H6898 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 2, 2021
vicious cycle of student loan debt exac- ture. That is what we are here to ac- What a ridiculous assertion. Do we
erbate the racial wealth gap than with complish. really think that a billionaire’s child is
our historically Black colleges and uni- I was 17 years old when college re- taking student loans? Come on. Come
versities. Not only am I a proud third- cruiters started coming to my high on. If you are taking on student loan
generation HBCU alum of Talladega school saying: This is worth it. debt, it is because you are likely a
College, but Georgia’s Fifth Congres- We still do that today because it is working or middle-class person.
sional District has more HBCUs than teenagers signing up for what is often So let’s get real. Let’s cancel it. It is
any other congressional district in this hundreds of thousands of dollars of in the interest of the people. It is in
country. debt, and we just do that, and our gov- the interest of this country. It is in the
HBCUs have been intentionally un- ernment allows that. We give 17-year- interest of our future.
derfunded throughout their history. olds the ability to sign on and sign up I thank the distinguished Represent-
While the Build Back Better Act will for $100,000 worth of debt, and we think ative from the Bronx and Westchester,
partially rectify that injustice, HBCUs that is responsible policy. JAMAAL BOWMAN, for yielding.
are still struggling to meet the needs I am 32 years old now. I have over Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I
of the more than 290,000 students en- $17,000 in student loan debt. I didn’t go thank Congresswoman OCASIO-CORTEZ
rolled in more than 100 HBCUs across to graduate school because I knew that for taking me back to when I was 17, a
America today. HBCUs’ endowments getting another degree would drown me senior in high school, trying to figure
are smaller compared to those of pre- in debt that I would never be able to out what the heck I was going to do. I
dominantly White institutions, and, in surpass. This is unacceptable. decided to go to college. We didn’t have
Not only that, but 65 percent of all any money, so they offer you all this
turn, that limits the aid that HBCUs
jobs in this country require an edu- free money and say: There you go. You
can provide to our students, leading to
cation beyond high school; first-gen- could take out as much as you want, as
larger student loans and smaller alum-
eration college students are two times much as you need. Just come to our
ni donations, burdening grads with
as likely to report being behind on stu- school, and we will take care of you.
tens of thousands of dollars in debt and
dent loan payments; and 63 percent of Then what happens is, you take on
perpetuating the cycle for generations
borrowers who made payments with all of this debt, and then you get out,
to come.
Navient during the COVID forbearance and you are underpaid in terms of the
Student loan debt also prevents peo-
still owe more now than they origi- employment you receive. Then the rent
ple from starting a family and building
nally borrowed. There are hundreds of is too high, and the groceries are too
a better life. An Education Trust study
thousands of people in this country high, and the childcare is too high.
found that of graduate degree holders Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Will the gen-
who owe more on their student loans
who earn between $75,000 and $100,000 tleman yield?
now than they did when they first took
with $94,000 in student loan debt, 55 Mr. BOWMAN. I yield to the gentle-
them out.
percent of debtors delayed investments We as a country are profiting off of woman from New York.
in retirement; 67 percent postponed insurmountable and crushing edu- Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. And health in-
buying a home; and 36 percent post- cational debt, and it is wrong. It is ab- surance is too high.
poned having a child. solutely wrong. Four years after grad- Mr. BOWMAN. And health insurance
We live in the richest country in the uation, 48 percent of Black students is too high. It is unbelievable.
world. We ought to be ashamed of these owe an average of 12.5 percent more We need to cancel student debt and
statistics. We shouldn’t accept that than they originally borrowed. end the predatory practices on our
people must choose between paying off But this isn’t just an issue of a debt young people, completely end the prac-
student loans or having the family that crisis. This is an educational crisis in tice.
they have always dreamed of. For gen- the United States of America. If we It is my honor to now yield to the
erations, American students have want to remain competitive, if we want distinguished gentlewoman from Mas-
heard that a college education is the to remain innovative, and if we need sachusetts (Ms. PRESSLEY).
key to unlocking the American Dream. the technological investments nec- Ms. PRESSLEY. Madam Speaker, I
Instead of unlocking the American essary to address things like climate thank Congressman BOWMAN for yield-
Dream, we have only created a unique- change, we need an educated country. ing. There is nothing freshman about
ly American nightmare. The United States has a policy of ac- him. He has hit the ground running
We made a promise to the American tively disincentivizing higher edu- since he has been here, and he has been
people. We can deliver on that promise cation. We disincentivize people from a leader and partner on many issues,
by canceling student loan debt so that getting a college or secondary edu- including this issue of student debt. I
everyone can thrive and not merely cation beyond high school. That is thank the gentleman for his partner-
survive. backward. The least we can do—we ship on our congressional resolution
I thank Representative BOWMAN for have a moral obligation, an economic calling for President Biden to provide
hosting this Special Order hour, and I obligation, a political obligation to broad-based student debt cancellation.
look forward to making sure that we cancel student loan debt in the United Madam Speaker, I rise today on be-
deliver on the promise of America for States of America. half of more than 45 million people in
everyone. We have seen the benefits that this America crushed by the growing
Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I has had during the forbearance alone. weight of the $1.7 trillion student debt
thank Congresswoman WILLIAMS for It has given people the breathing room crisis. The grandmother—you heard me
participating. to do what they need to do so we can right, the grandmother—I have a 76-
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- stop writing these ridiculous articles year-old constituent in the Massachu-
tlewoman from New York (Ms. OCASIO- that young people are killing diamond setts Seventh still paying student
CORTEZ), who represents the Bronx and rings, that they are not buying houses, loans, all while on Social Security and
Queens. and that they are killing this industry a fixed income.
Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Madam or that, that we are not having chil- I rise on behalf of the new parents
Speaker, I thank the gentleman for dren. It is because we are being crushed struggling to manage the skyrocketing
yielding. We are here, Bronx boogie by immoral debt. costs of childcare for which Massachu-
down caucus checking in, yerr caucus No person should have to go into setts is the second highest in the coun-
checking in, student loan cancellation debt, crushing debt, in order to get an try, $21,000 per child for center-based
caucus checking in because this is get- education. It is wrong. It is backward, care; new parents struggling to manage
ting ridiculous. This is ridiculous. and it doesn’t help us as a country. So the skyrocketing cost of childcare,
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
I am 32 years old. I am a first-genera- I am greatly looking forward to that. I rent, and their student loan payments;
tion college graduate on my mom’s am greatly looking forward to the the teacher who fears losing their
side, and growing up, I was told, since Biden administration canceling stu- teaching license because they have
I was a child: Your destiny is to go to dent loan debt and no longer advancing gone into default and can’t come up
college. That is what is going to lift the false narrative that student loan with that monthly student loan pay-
our family up and out. That is our fu- debt is for the privileged. ment, not even the minimum.
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December 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6899
The irony of it is that this is debt This is a crisis created through pol- One of the first ever townhalls I had
that they incurred in order to be an ed- icy decisions, and we have a responsi- when I first got elected was in western
ucator, in order to be a nation builder, bility to address it head on. In this mo- Wayne, in Wayne County, Michigan.
to pour into our children, the next gen- ment of ongoing crisis, our families A young lady, after I opened it up for
eration. need every bit of help that they can questions, stood up. She stood up very
I rise on behalf of an entire genera- get. strong and looked over at me and
tion of young people, young people I In just under 2 months, student debt started crying, in tears, telling me just
met with a couple of weeks ago who, payments are scheduled to resume for how incredibly hard it is to be able to
when I asked them about their future, millions of families across this coun- survive, become a homeowner, to be
were despondent and expressed great try. Families who have been struggling able to move on. She told me about
hopelessness: Well, I don’t know that I to make ends meet throughout this how much it felt like she was trapped,
am going to go to college because I pandemic, through no fault of their like she was hostage to the student
don’t want to be in debt for the rest of own in this pandemic-induced reces- loan debt, and the fact that all she
my life, and I fear if there will even be sion, will have an additional bill to wanted to do was give back. She want-
a planet for me to grow up on. cover. ed to get her degree and come back to
I rise today on behalf of a whole gen- I have parents in my district in their the community that raised her, come
eration of young people grappling with fifties still paying on their student back to the community and give back,
that sense of foreboding and despair, a loans and now helping their children and it was so incredibly hard.
generation of young folk who have pay for their student loans. This is an Today, as we hear over and over
been forced to hold off on pursuing edu- intergenerational crisis. again, 15 million of our neighbors
cation, starting higher education, This summer, we applauded the across our country owe trillions in out-
starting a small business, purchasing a Biden administration for heeding the standing student debt. That alone
home because of record levels of stu- calls of many of us here tonight, heed- should resonate with so many of my
dent loan debt. ing the calls of this movement, the colleagues. This must become a na-
I rise on behalf of Black and Brown movement that elected him, when they tional priority.
folk who, due to generations of precise extended the pause on student loan One of the things that I think is im-
and intentional what I would charac- payments. We fought hard for that. portant, as we hear about these stories,
terize as policy violence, have been This welcome action gave another is the human impact. I was the first in
forced to take on higher rates of stu- layer of protection to the millions of my family to graduate from high
dent debt for just a chance at the same borrowers facing a disastrous financial school. My father only went up to a 4th
degree as our White peers. cliff. But our work here is unfinished. grade education, my mother, an 8th
This isn’t a question as to whether or
b 1915 grade education. My father came here
not he has the authority, because that at 19 years old. They could have never
Madam Speaker, the student debt authority has already been exercised.
crisis is one that disproportionately imagined, of course, their daughter
The same authority should be used to being able to graduate from high
impacts our Black community. For too extend the payment pause. President
long, the narrative has excluded us and school and go on to college. Yes, I
Biden must now cancel at least $50,000 worked full-time Monday through Fri-
the unique ways in which this debt is in student debt to boost the economy
exacerbating racial and economic in- day and took weekend classes to get
and to close the racial wealth gap. my law degree and still had close to
equities, compounding our gender and In this moment of a so-called reck-
racial wealth gap. We have to borrow $200,000 in debt. I still owe over $70,000,
oning on racial injustice, the only re-
at higher rates just for a shot at the and most of it is interest. Most of it
ceipts that matter are policies and
same degree as our White peers. was our own government making
budgets.
Black women, in particular, bear the The truth, Madam Speaker, is that money and profit off of me.
largest burden, as they are forced to And guess what? I didn’t go to work
this economic crisis is far from over.
take on higher student debt loads, all for the for-profit entities. I went to
Families in the Seventh District of
while navigating a persisting wage gap legal aid. I worked at the nonprofit or-
Massachusetts and all across the coun-
that allows Black women to earn just ganization fighting for the right to
try are continuing to struggle to make
61 cents to every dollar earned by a breathe clean air, to fight for the work-
ends meet. Failure to act would be un-
White man. These are systemic bar- er that was getting their wage taken
conscionable, so we must move with
riers that make it significantly more and stolen by their employer. I worked
urgency.
challenging to repay this debt. As we continue the work of building on immigrant rights and so much
There are some who have questioned a just and equitable recovery from the more.
if this is regressive in impact, to cancel current economic crisis, broad-based, All of that is to say, we have to stop
student debt of $50,000. They have ques- across-the-board, and permanent stu- treating folks paying for their edu-
tioned the merit as to whether or not dent debt cancellation must remain cation as if they bought some bougie
this is a racial justice issue. Well, ask front and center. car or something big, something be-
the presidents of the historically Black The people, including the broad and yond them. But, no, they were seeking
colleges and universities who have been diverse coalition that elected President an education.
using ARPA funds to cancel student Biden, demand, deserve, and require As many of my colleagues will tell
debt. Not regressive in impact. Impor- nothing less. you, there is that counselor in the hall-
tant, necessary, and long overdue. Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I way that would pull us aside and say,
These are systemic barriers that thank Congresswoman PRESSLEY for Rashida, where is your application for
have existed long before this pandemic her words. college? You have got to apply. And I
and unjust pre-COVID status quo. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- am like, I am the eldest of 14, Coach
In this moment, as we work to build tlewoman from Michigan (Ms. TLAIB). Watson—it was Coach Perry Watson at
back better and do so equitably, Presi- Ms. TLAIB. Madam Speaker, I thank Southwestern High School. He still re-
dent Biden has an opportunity and a so much Representative BOWMAN for members pulling me into his office be-
responsibility and the authority to ad- hosting this critically important Spe- cause he didn’t get an application from
dress the hurt and harm these commu- cial Order hour tonight. me—and I said, I am the eldest of 14; I
nities are feeling by using his execu- Representative BOWMAN said some- can’t go—my parents are working-class
tive authority to cancel $50,000 in Fed- thing that really resonated with me. folks; my dad worked on the line at
eral student loan debt. When I was a senior in high school, Ford Motor Company—and say, Hey,
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
Doing so is one of most effective they really did make it sound like that dad, help me out here; I want to go to
ways he can provide sweeping relief to money was free. That money was far college.
millions of families while helping to re- from free, as we know. So all of that is to say, yeah, they sat
duce the racial wealth gap to lay the Students in our country have become us down. Of course, there was the Pell
groundwork for an equitable and just profit centers. They really, truly have, grant and all of that. Of course, there
long-term recovery. and it is ruining lives. was. But at the end, it was still a
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H6900 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 2, 2021
struggle. It was still a struggle. Be- first, then I think it is going to be an the first person to go to college, in
cause guess what, some of that money easy decision for the administration 2021, the single mother that has made
you couldn’t use for certain things. I and for President Biden to come up it to 20-something hours, has to drop
remember this. They changed stuff a with the plan that is needed to really out?
little bit after I graduated. But still, I help that young lady that came to my America has always said that the
had to work. I had to figure out how to townhall, and so many others, in mak- American Dream is defined singularly
pay for the gas to get to the school and ing this a national priority. by your presence here in the United
so much more. I can tell you, they all know, and States. Yet, we are finding that State
But I think it is really important to they were all doing what they were and Federal policymakers are ignoring
know, in my home State of Michigan, I supposed to be doing and at the end, the $1,730,000,000 plus of national stu-
think the average loan borrower now is they are still struggling. dent debt and that one-sixth of the
close to $35,000 in debt. You have to add I know my colleague is not a million- American people, 47,900,000, about that
on the healthcare costs, the rent, the aire, but I always like reminding peo- number, are indebted to student debt.
utilities, car payments, and so much ple of this. The majority of my col- That is why we are here on the floor
more to just really live your life. leagues in this Chamber are. They today, recognizing that it also is an
So the majority of our American peo- don’t understand the struggle of living imbalance.
ple, our neighbors right now, educated check by check. They don’t under-
or not, live check by check. They lit- b 1930
stand. Some of them may not be close
erally live check by check. Add to that in understanding the pain of that stu- I thank Mr. BOWMAN, an educator,
the average of $250 or more for student dent loan debt that is really heavy on who has seen little babies grow up with
loans, it is really holding people back. so many families. little stars in their eyes. They can play
When I look at my State—my dis- So I stand here in solidarity with my a piano or they can play an instrument
trict is the third poorest congressional colleagues in saying, let’s do the right or he sees them playing on the field of
district in the country. When I look at thing, let’s make this a national pri- recreation, and they are little sci-
the eyes and look at the families that ority, let’s get an executive order done, entists, scholars, but yet the hopes and
I represent and they come to our town- and let’s help millions of Americans dreams of the opportunity is somewhat
halls and talk about the struggles and that did nothing wrong except wanting denied.
‘‘please help, make government about to access a higher education which, as Black families must take on more
people, make it about us, put us first.’’ they were told, was access to a beau- debt for the same degree as White stu-
One of the things that I continue to tiful, vibrant life in our country. dents and often need to get several de-
hear, the common theme is: We didn’t Again, we can’t continue to make grees in order to be in the middle class.
do anything wrong. We just went to go them a profit center. We have to make The burden of student debt reaches
get access to higher education. They them our priority, and they deserve to deep into communities of color. In-
feel like they are being penalized. They be able to live and thrive in our coun- creasing evidence suggests that it is
feel, truly, that the interest rates—I try. hampering the ability to build wealth.
read this—that the interest rates are Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I One of the reasons my good friend
one of the silent killers when it comes thank Congresswoman TLAIB so much and myself are also interested in the
to debt repayment. They feel like they for her powerful words. idea of the commission to study slav-
are being punished for doing something Madam Speaker, I yield to the gen- ery and develop reparation proposals is
that they were taught to do, right? tlewoman from Texas (Ms. JACKSON to get a roadmap of some of the popu-
They go to college, do right, work LEE). lations that are impacted negatively
hard, and they feel like they are being Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, by student debt.
penalized. I thank the gentleman from New York Default and delinquency rates on stu-
The cost of education in our country dent loans remain appallingly high. 3.6
for both his leadership and his inspira-
just continues to increase. We all know million students are in the State of
tion. He obviously cares. That is why
that. We see it over and over again. So Texas. The Nation carries $1.7 trillion
he is on the floor tonight.
what sounds like something that can’t debt, and we know that 79 percent of
I think that is the point that I want
be solved, that it is something impos- Black students had student loan debt
to make. It looks as if we are lonely on
sible, it actually is not that complex. by their fourth year. We know it im-
President Biden has the ability, his this floor tonight. It looks as if we are
in the eve of the day’s work. It looks as pacts our Latinx families and families
administration has the ability, with
if we could be somewhere else. that come from rural communities. We
the stroke of a pen, to help millions of
our neighbors across the country to get I can tell you, being from a district are concerned about them.
out of student debt. in Houston that is surrounded by uni- I hold in my hand the Constitution,
We are far from putting this pan- versities, and I know that I will get as I said. I don’t know how many stu-
demic behind us. It has been a struggle someone in trouble for trying to call dents have time to even look in that
for many of us. Yes, these payments the roll of the universities around the direction, but I will tell them that the
are going to be coming due. Folks are 18th Congressional District, like the Founding Fathers, although not per-
so anxious about it, even planning now. historic Texas Southern University, fect, said that they came together to
Folks are sending me messages on so- University of Houston, University of create a more perfect Union.
cial media, What do I do about Christ- St. Thomas, Houston Baptist Univer- And what does that mean? I think it
mas? Because I know around the cor- sity, Lone Star College, Houston Com- means, give us hope, give us a lifeline,
ner, I have got to start repaying the munity College, and San Jacinto Col- let us breathe, and let us be able to buy
student loans. lege. I know someone is texting me the things that will help our families.
It is difficult to put into words just right now. But I am full of college stu- Let us not, as a Black male borrower,
how big of a difference relieving this dents, all of them working very hard. default on loans within 12 years of be-
heavy burden would make in the lives I thought I would bring to the floor ginning school.
of so many of my residents. today the Constitution. I love the This, of course, covers the gamut of
I am grateful to stand here with words of the Declaration of Independ- all of America. It is not just the issue
many of my colleagues joining in this ence, the opening words, that we are of people of color. It impacts older bor-
fight. Rarely, if ever, in politics are all created equal with certain inalien- rowers, 60 and older, whose numbers
you presented with an easy solution to able rights of life, liberty, and the pur- swelled from 700,000 in 2005 to 2.8 mil-
such an impossible problem. But this suit of happiness. lion in 2018. Their debt load was $8.2
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
one isn’t. This one is pretty easy. We Does that mean the students that are billion. Can you imagine being 60 and
are the ones. The government is prof- right now struggling to make ends older and still paying debt?
iting off of people, and we have got to meet—I think of that famous noodle I came here to the floor tonight be-
stop. meal that they eat because they just cause I have wanted to join the gen-
I think when we, again, make govern- don’t have the money to survive—does tleman for people to see that in spite of
ment about people and we put them that mean that one person, that is still the fact that we are here at a moment
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December 2, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6901
into the evening, we care about getting because higher education is the one the amount of debt will prevent me
this done. It must be the Congress and way that we achieve the American from living that American Dream once
the administration that takes ahold of Dream. It is what I did. I graduate.
this and determines that people who I am the youngest of six of immi- I think that is shameful because
are now struggling to pay mortgages, grant parents from Mexico. My two these are the folks that are renewing
to survive, to feed children, we hope parents never made it past third grade. this idea to live a more just and perfect
the Build Back Better bill will be a Both could read but not really write. Union, to refresh that idea generation
lifeline, but right now we have got to One of the things that they knew is upon generation. And it is unfortunate
deal with people who wanted to do that coming here would give me that because who does it impact? It often
right and are suffering. opportunity to change my life. I was impacts immigrants, people of color,
I want to close on this note: To cre- fortunate enough to be born here. My Blacks, Latinos, single mothers, single
ate a more perfect Union, the Constitu- brother Javier and I were born here, parents. They are the ones that are
tion guarantees me that. The Declara- and I was one of the first to graduate taking on higher and higher burdens of
tion of Independence says that this Na- from college. debt.
tion was created to ensure the inalien- It allowed me to believe that I could Then when they graduate, they some-
able rights of life, liberty, and the pur- do more, to believe I could be part of times get jobs that don’t pay them
suit of happiness. this country, and about that American that well because they want to give
And I want to say to those who have promise. You come here, you believe in back. They care about their commu-
gained student debt but never com- our values, you work hard, you give nities. We saw in a recent New York
pleted their degree, they are not in any back, you are going to have a place, Times article that graduates from a
way bad people, defaulters, deadbeats; and you are going to succeed; and the school of social work were graduating
no, they are not. The Constitution ap- next generation, your kids and your with $112,000 in debt but getting paid
plies to all. But they are people who grandkids, are going to do even better. $50,000. This is something that we see
are working in jobs just to survive. I am fortunate. I got to go to a com- time and time again.
They wanted to finish school, but they munity college after I worked at Sub- If people want to believe in the
were so overloaded; maybe they had to way and Target, and then I transferred American Dream, then they have to
leave to take care of a sick mother or to UCLA, graduated in the top 10 per- care about canceling student loan debt;
a sick father or maybe they had to cent of my class. Then I got my mas- to refresh the potential of millions of
leave to take care of younger brothers ter’s of public policy from Harvard Uni- Americans to buy their first house, to
versity. raise children, to start a business, to
and sisters. I know those stories. But
I ended up walking away with $15,000 grow our economy. I believe that this
maybe they are now back in school
in debt from undergrad, which wasn’t is something that Americans from all
struggling to just try to get that de-
bad. I thought it was a lot of money. sides of the aisle could agree on.
gree. Madam Speaker, I am calling on the
Let’s give them hope. Let’s give them When you graduate, and you are only
President to cancel $50,000 of student
dignity. Let’s help them with that de- getting paid $24,000 a year, it was a lot
loan debt in the next year.
fault and turn it into success. Let’s of money. And I walked away with a Mr. BOWMAN. Madam Speaker, I
join in—Congressman, thank you—to little bit over $65,000 from the Kennedy thank Congressman GOMEZ for his pow-
cancel student loan debt. And we are School for my master’s degree. And erful and inspiring words.
not frivolous, big spenders. We are try- don’t forget, a lot of students also have President Biden and his administra-
ing to put people on the right track so credit card debt on top of that. tion have made some important strides
that they can contribute to this great But you know what, I am fortunate to improve student loan debt for many
economy and be givers, givers for what that I got to go to school. I am fortu- people who are enrolled in public serv-
is good in America. I hope we can get nate that I have been able to change ice loan forgiveness. 30,000 people get-
the job done. my life. I am fortunate that I have ting loan forgiveness is a big step in
Mr. BOWMAN. Thank you so much, been able to get jobs that provide me the right direction. Now we need loan
Congresswoman JACKSON LEE. You health insurance for the first time in forgiveness for the more than 40 mil-
made me think of the hundreds or even my family’s history, and that my debt lion other people in this country.
thousands of students and families that isn’t as crippling as the current genera- Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal-
I have met throughout my career in tion’s debt. ance of my time.
education who in elementary school The current generation’s debt after
f
have already made the decision that the Great Recession ballooned to his-
their children are not going to attempt toric proportions. That is why you THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
to go to college despite their brilliance, have trillions of dollars in student loan FREE STUFF
despite them being artists and sci- debt on the backs of 47 million Ameri- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under
entists and architects and engineers cans. the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan-
and athletes and musicians and all of You know what? These are dreamers; uary 4, 2021, the gentleman from Texas
those things. these are people who believe in the (Mr. ROY) is recognized for 60 minutes
Because of the crippling impact of American Dream, that say, you know as the designee of the minority leader.
student debt and cost of college, they what, I have been told, go to school, Mr. ROY. Madam Speaker, I am fas-
have already made the decision when work hard. And you know what, it cinated to learn that I serve in the
kids are as young as 5, 6 years old. doesn’t matter, if you get into the best United States House of free stuff be-
That is unconscionable, that is un- school possible, take out that debt be- cause that is what I have been hearing
American, and the President has the cause it is going to come back tenfold. nonstop this entire week.
authority and the moral responsibility In the past, that was the case. There is an unlimited supply of
to cancel student debt right now. But we don’t see that now. We see money and resources apparently, an
Thank you so much for your words. that the debt that has been put on the unlimited supply of dollars that we can
I yield to the gentleman from Cali- backs—because we underinvested in continue to print while devastating our
fornia (Mr. GOMEZ), the last speaker of higher education, we underinvested in economy, devastating the American
the evening. I thank him for being K–12—is crippling people to living their dollar, and transforming our society by
here. version of the American Dream. encouraging Americans to believe that
Mr. GOMEZ. Madam Speaker, I It is so severe, and it pains me and it there is a free lunch. And there ain’t no
thank Mr. BOWMAN for organizing this depresses me, that people are actually free lunch.
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
Special Order hour. are deciding, I would rather not go to My wife is the product of a single
I like to describe the student loan college because I don’t want to have mom growing up in Texas. Her mom
debt crisis as a boot on the neck of the debt. Think about that. That is the de- worked multiple jobs to send her to
American Dream and on the neck of cision people are making now, I would college. She worked hard to be able to
millions of Americans who make that rather not have the best opportunity to go to college. She left with 70-some-
American Dream a reality. And that is achieve the American Dream because thing thousand dollars of student loans
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