The cost of education has more than doubled at high level institutions across the nation over the last 40 years, making it an expensive luxury that far from everyone can afford.
Debt is now a clear issue for parents and students across the country as a result of this ridiculous tuition increase. Many people have prevented themselves from pursuing higher education over the years because they are worried about debt and loans.
As a result, President Biden and his administration have come up with a fairly effective way to lower student loan debt, which may be beneficial to those who are looking to further their education… or so we originally thought.
Back in November of 2022, we all saw a glimmer of hope in our fiscal fight to seek a higher education—a hope that has since been lost.
President Biden's plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt for borrowers making under $125,000 annually was struck down by the Supreme Court in June 2023.
The Court ruled that the plan exceeded the executive branch's authority under the HEROES Act, which was cited as the legal basis for the action. The decision essentially stated that such a significant policy change should come from Congress, not through executive action.
Since then, no further actions by Biden’s administration, who promised a change in education and tuition, has been taken.
Every day, we see this issue become increasingly complex and drastic—whether it is in regards to higher tuition or, the regard that concerns me the most—immigration.
Fair or not, as a legal immigrant of seven years who has, without fault, paid taxes, obeyed the law, and pursued my education, I have no benefits when it comes to tuition, especially in-state.
And while this may seem like a legal or legislative issue, it was Biden's mission and campaign promise to provide a more affordable education for students in America.
Since the Supreme Court ruled against Biden’s attempt in 2022, tuition rates have increased, stories of students unable to afford or pay off education have come to light, people have fallen into deeper debt, and students have stayed away from desired education fields due to the lack of attention.
And while this was a court decision, more could have been done on Biden’s end to correct this setback. For example, further grants or scholarships could have been funded by the executive branch for students in certain states. He could have advocated for expanded Pell Grants to provide more substantial financial aid to low-income students. He could have supported initiatives to lower interest rates on existing student loans, making repayment more manageable.
Another initiative that could have been taken into inspiration is the scholarships awarded by the Senate - a branch of the U.S. government that actually manages to make an effort to reward and help students.
And, he could have even worked with Congress to create new legislation aimed specifically at addressing the high cost of college tuition, maybe by incentivizing states to invest more in public universities or by providing federal funds to reduce tuition costs.
If, as president, you assured the country you would improve education access, why not continue fighting for this?
These actions would correlate with his campaign promises and demonstrate a continued commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable for all Americans.
That way, an empty promise wouldn’t have been made, and the hope for a debt-free education would not have been lost. We cannot afford to let another generation be crushed under the weight of student debt; it’s time Biden follows up on his campaign promise and corrects this corrupted education system.
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