In his address on Martin Luther King Jr. Day the President pledge to do his best….
BIDEN TALKS HBCU FUNDING, STUDENT DEBT ON MLK DAY: President Joe Biden on Monday used his Martin Luther King Jr. Day address to tout his administration’s policies that are aimed at helping Black college students and student loan borrowers.
—“I have your back” on student debt relief, Biden told the audience at an event hosted by the National Action Network, a civil rights group founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton.
—Biden sharply criticized Republicans for opposing his plan while supporting pandemic relief for small businesses. “Currently the only thing blocking my plan is them suing us,” Biden said of Republican officials. “My administration is making the case to the Supreme Court, and I’m confident — I’m confident — in the legal authority to carry out our plan.”
—Biden also noted that the benefits of the student debt relief plan, which provides extra loan forgiveness to Pell grant recipients, would especially benefit Black borrowers. “Seventy percent of Black college students receive Pell Grants,” Biden said. “For many black students, the saving will be significant [under] my debt relief plan, including wiping out their student debt completely. That’s a real game changer.”
— Biden also promoted his administration’s effort to boost money for historically Black colleges and universities: “We’ve delivered nearly $6 billion in funding to HBCUs to invest in the next generation of Black leaders,” Biden said. “That’s a record, that’s a fact, and it’s not going to stop.”….