Biden to announce more student loan relief ahead of trip

Justin Sink, Bloomberg News on Oct 5, 2024

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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is planning a pair of economic announcements — including new student loan debt relief — before departing for a trip to Germany and Angola as the White House seeks to harness momentum from recent positive economic data.

Biden is set to announce next week that he’s expanding student debt relief for public workers, according to a senior White House official who described the plans on the condition of anonymity. He’s also expected to reveal federal actions as part of his administration’s efforts to replace the nation’s lead pipes within a decade.

The push — alongside an observation Monday marking last year’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants, followed by a campaign event Tuesday night in Philadelphia — represent an increased public-facing cadence from Biden, who had curtailed his schedule after exiting from the presidential race this summer and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.

In recent days, Biden has notably increased his interaction with the White House news corps — including his first-ever appearance in the White House’s briefing room — as the administration seeks to highlight a strong jobs report, the resolution of a port workers’ strike and Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.

“President Biden is seizing every opportunity to act on his agenda so we can keep fueling immediate economic growth and job creation now while also ensuring these historic investments he and Vice President Harris secured keep paying off for decades to come,” Biden communications director Ben LaBolt said in a statement.

“That’s why this week, he’ll achieve more progress eliminating dangerous lead from drinking water — and creating good-paying jobs in the process — and by announcing additional student loan debt relief.”

Biden’s student loan announcement will come just days after a federal judge in Missouri temporarily blocked efforts to finalize a program that would have canceled as much as $20,000 in accrued interest on student loans and forgiven balances for longtime borrowers.

The White House has been repeatedly stymied by federal courts as it’s sought to eliminate student debt, though the administration has canceled almost $170 billion so far.The lead pipe plan, expected to include both actions and funding, will add to $9 billion already announced by the administration.

In Germany, Biden is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leaders of other allies at Ramstein Air Force Base.

Zelenskyy said he will present his victory plan at the summit, including “clear, specific steps for a just end to the war” that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, according to a post Saturday to Telegram. Zelenskyy and Biden met late last month to discuss the proposal at the White House.

In Angola, Biden is scheduled to meet with President João Lourenço to demonstrate the strength of the relationship between their two countries, according to a statement last month from the U.S. Embassy in Luanda.