Policy Update
As Congress remains in the August District Work Period, I want to take this opportunity to go further in depth on an issue important to Third District Arkansans. Read below!
Biden-Harris Student Loan Scam
Let’s be clear—debt can’t be canceled. It doesn’t just disappear into thin air. Even if the debtor doesn’t pay, someone else foots the bill in one way or another. This is especially true regarding the Biden-Harris administration’s student loan cancellation scheme that places the individual decisions of borrowers on all American taxpayers. $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt belongs to 13% of the population. Why should the 87% of Americans without federal student loan debt pay for the 13% who do? It’s frustrating that personal responsibility is thrown out the window at the expense of others, many of whom never went to college, served to afford school, or have honored their obligations.
In August 2022, President Biden announced a plan to cancel student loan debt unilaterally. This scam would have circumvented Congressional authority and was estimated to cost around $400 billion. In May 2023, my colleagues and I in the House of Representatives passed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would block the administration’s student loan forgiveness plan. The resolution passed the Senate, too. However, the president refused to relent and vetoed it. Fortunately, the presidential veto ended up being moot when the Supreme Court struck down the plan a few weeks later, ruling that the Biden-Harris administration had overstepped its authority.
Despite disapproval from both the legislative and judicial branches of our government, the Biden-Harris administration is still attempting to transfer student loan debt to the taxpayer. Soon after the Supreme Court ruled that the student loan cancellation attempt was unconstitutional, the administration announced another attempt to forgive student loan debt, which included the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. The SAVE Plan significantly expanded the Income-Drive Repayment (IDR) program, which lets borrowers pay back loans based on how much they earn. Under the SAVE plan, up to 80% of borrowers will never have to fully repay their loans proving that the plan is just another loan forgiveness scheme under a different name. The cost for the SAVE plan is estimated to be over $500 billion, making it the most expensive regulation in history, and more than doubling the cost of the IDR program.
In December 2023, the House passed another CRA to block this expensive plan from going into place, however, the Senate companion failed to pass the Senate a few weeks before. Just like the administration’s original student loan forgiveness plan, the SAVE plan has been subject to legal disputes. In July, a federal appeals court blocked the SAVE plan. Just this week on Wednesday, the Supreme Court refused to lift the appeals court order that blocked the program, keeping the program on hold. While these legal battles play out, 8 million borrowers enrolled in the program have had their loans placed in forbearance. This means that fewer borrowers are now making payments on their debt.
Make no mistake—the Biden-Harris administration is not canceling any debt. They are transferring it to the taxpayer to win political points. Rest assured; I will continue to support policies to protect the taxpayer from expensive executive branch overreach.
3 Year Anniversary of the Tragic Withdrawal from Afghanistan
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The Biden-Harris Administration's botched withdrawal from Afghanistan three years ago this week left Americans, our allies, and billions of dollars in U.S. equipment abandoned behind enemy lines. We will never forget the 13 brave Americans who died in defense of our nation during the failed withdrawal, and we continue to pray for their families and loved ones. My House Republican colleagues and I will not give up on our efforts to hold the administration accountable for this preventable and tragic day in our history.
Visiting with Rogers History Club Members
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I recently joined Mayor Hines and former Mayor Sampier at the Rogers History Club to reflect on our time as Mayors of Rogers! This community is incredibly special to me. It was an honor to serve as mayor, and I continue to be honored to serve as this region’s representative in Congress.
Supporting Firefighters
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I secured funding for Northeastern Benton County Fire Station facility upgrades in my Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill. My staff from DC is visiting the district, and they stopped by this week so we can continue to support hardworking firefighters in their efforts to keep Arkansans safe!
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Celebrating Hardworking Arkansans
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On Labor Day, we celebrate the hard work, determination, and spirit of innovation that drives American workers and our economy. As we head into the long weekend, I’m proud of the strong workforce in Arkansas’ Third, which—both past and present—is a critical part of our growth and success. It’s always great to see this firsthand during my visits throughout the district. Thank you for your contribution to our community!
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Have a great Labor Day weekend ahead, and I hope to see you around! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
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