Edwards grills Department of Education secretary on the fairness of student loan cancellations for America's working class
U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) today questioned Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on the fairness of student loan cancellations for Western North Carolinians who did attend a university.
Click here or below to watch Edwards’ remarks on student loan cancellations.
Excerpts from his questioning:
On the working class paying for others' college education:
"Mr. Secretary, one of the things that I continually hear from folks in my district and from all around America is that Washington seems to have forgotten so much of the working class, and I see no better example of that than the student debt relief program that’s being suggested right now - where folks with dirt and grease under their fingernails are being asked to pay for folks' college education that wear a crest on their sport coat.
"I’m gonna give you a chance right now, in the time that I have left, to explain to that working class why this proposed program this debt relief program is fair and not turning its back, our back, on those folks that have calluses on their hands and really have built this country."
Follow-up:
"I’m talking about the folks that are plunging toilets every day and cutting pipes and laying bricks, that didn’t have an opportunity to go to college and now we’re asking them to pay for the education of the folks that you’re trying to describe there. Those are different classes.
"So, tell the bricklayers and pipefitters out there right now, you have the floor for a minute and three seconds, why they should feel good about paying for these student debt relief programs."
On the lack of fairness in paying for a different class of individuals' education:
"The parents of those children that are laying bricks and fitting pipes have already made their decision, they're into their career and they're being asked to pay for a different class of folks' education. I find that just tremendously unfair and I'll be anxious to go back and play your comments over to the folks back at home and see if you've convinced them."