On Wednesday, the House of Representatives made a futile attempt to override President Joe Biden’s veto of a Republican-led legislation that aimed to repeal his plan of canceling up to $20,000 of student debt for millions of Americans. Unfortunately for the Republicans, the override attempt fell short on a 221-206 vote, lacking the required two-thirds majority to overcome a presidential veto.
The outcome doesn’t come as a surprise, considering that earlier this month, Congress narrowly passed the resolution overturning student debt relief, with the vote primarily split along party lines. While a few moderate Democrats joined forces with Republicans to pass the measure, it was nowhere close to achieving a veto-proof majority.
President Biden vetoed the legislation two weeks ago, strongly defending the debt cancellation program as imperative assistance for middle- and working-class families. However, Republican critics contend that the $400 billion plan places an excessive burden on taxpayers and is unfair to individuals who didn’t pursue higher education or have already paid off their student loans.
With the failed vote on Wednesday, the Republican attempt to dismantle the plan under the Congressional Review Act has now come to an end. Yet, the fate of Biden’s program still hangs in the balance, as it awaits a ruling from the Supreme Court. The justices are currently deliberating and could potentially decide as early as Thursday whether the Biden administration can proceed with student debt cancellation.
Opponents of the program, including Republican state attorneys general and a conservative group, have filed a lawsuit to halt its implementation, arguing that it represents an illegal abuse of executive power. It remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will ultimately rule in this contentious matter.
It’s worth noting that the vetoed resolution not only aimed to repeal the student debt cancellation but also sought to lift the freeze on student loan repayment and interest. However, separately, as part of a bipartisan agreement to raise the debt ceiling, Congress passed a law that will terminate the payment pause in the coming months. Starting from September 1, the interest on federal student loans is set to resume, and the Education Department is actively preparing to resume collecting monthly payments from borrowers in October.
Despite the failed attempt to overturn Biden’s student debt relief plan through Congress, the future of the program remains uncertain until the Supreme Court reaches a decision. The battle between proponents and opponents of the plan continues, with both sides fiercely advocating their positions. Only time will tell what lies ahead for the millions of Americans burdened by student loan debt and eagerly awaiting a resolution to this ongoing debate.
