NC Newsline by Chantal Brown 

North Carolina congresswomen Deborah Ross (2nd District) and Alma Adams (12th District) joined this week with Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan’s 11th District and Rep. Nikema Williams of Georgia’s 5th District to tout a package of legislation designed to help college graduates manage their student loan debt and repair their credit.

The proposals, which took on new relevance in the aftermath of a recent Supreme Cout ruling striking down Biden administration efforts to provide student debt relief, include the “Clean Slate Through Consolidation Act,” the “Clean Slate Through Repayment Act,” and the “Student Loan Rehabilitation and Credit Score Improvement Act.”

At a Wednesday online press conference, Ross described the need for the bills as urgent. “Our nation is facing an unprecedented student debt crisis, and many young Americans are burdened with an adverse credit history as a result,” she said. “Students should not be punished for seeking an education, but the high cost of learning has prevented many young people from pursuing their dreams. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing a series of bills that will help borrowers recover from crippling student loan debt and reach their goals – whether it’s buying a home, owning a car, starting a business, or saving for the future.”

The Clean Slate Through Consolidation Act would remove default records from the credit history of federal student loan borrowers who have consolidated their defaulted loans.

The Clean Slate Through Repayment Act says that all negative credit reporting related to a previously defaulted student loan is removed from a borrower’s credit history once the borrower has completed student loan rehabilitation. It would also remove records of default from student borrowers’ credit histories once they repay their loans.

“It [student debt relief] is also the key to economic prosperity. And as for the president’s initiative, I am just so glad that he is not giving up,” Ross said.

Congresswoman Stevens said that student debt keeps things such as buying a home or having a wedding out of reach.

“Some of this debt for borrowers is often insurmountable and it is keeping Americans from making purchases. Frankly, this is just keeping Americans from participating in our economy and achieving other milestones that are marking the American dream.”

The lawmakers said that they hope support for the bill extends beyond party lines.

Rep. Adams noted that relief would benefit people of all political affiliations. “Education is not a partisan issue,” she said. “This debt issue is not a partisan issue. All of the folks who have had an opportunity to go and get an education are not Democrats, so it is not a partisan issue, it is one that will impact not only families but our economy. If we are going to build a stronger economy, we need to have these individuals be able to participate.”

While acknowledging the challenges the bills face in the GOP-controlled U.S. House, Ross said that she and other supporters would have to be “bold” and take the issue on directly in order to convince their Republican colleagues that this subject is important “not just for our borrowers, but for the health of our economy.”

“Especially in the wake of the Supreme Court denial of debt relief to millions of Americans, student loan debt remains a serious and often unfair burden for our families. I promised action on student loan debt, and with these three bills, Congresswomen Stevens, Williams, Ross and I tend to deliver,” Adams said.

The legislation has been endorsed by The Center for Responsible Lending, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, The Institute for College Access & Success, The National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers.