Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee led Harris County in joining 40 other local governments in 23 states to file an amicus brief in Biden v. Nebraska, the case challenging the United States Department of Education’s plan to provide student debt relief of up to $20,000 per student borrower. Harris County and the other governments have sided with the Biden administration and student loan forgiveness advocates, asking the Supreme Court of the United States to undo a lower court’s order halting the administration’s plan for student loan cancellation.
“Student loan debt has become an inescapable financial burden for many Americans, including first generation college students whose parents couldn’t afford to pay their way through school. We filed this brief to give those folks relief,” said Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee. “Not only does the student debt relief plan have a positive impact on people who are drowning in student loan payments, it also helps the County by allowing these people to more fully participate in the local economy. Importantly, leaders at all levels of government need to be discussing making college more attainable for future generations. Students in Harris County shouldn’t be dissuaded from going to college because it’s become unreasonably expensive—each of them deserves the opportunity to pursue a higher education.”
The Department of Education’s plan would eliminate the student debt burden of an estimated 20 million people nationwide and significantly reduce the burden for over 20 million more.
Harris County Attorney Menefee’s filing of the brief was unanimously approved by the Harris County Commissioners Court.
Argument in the case is set for February 28th.