Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is calling on the Biden administration to extend a pause on student loan payments.
The current pause, initially put in place under the administration of former President Donald Trump in 2020 and extended under President Joe Biden, is set to end August 31. It was put in place to ease financial hardship caused by the pandemic.
Pingree and other members of Congress are urging the White House to extend it once again, citing inflation and the rising cost of living.
“Resuming student loan payments would force millions of borrowers to choose between paying their federal student loans or putting a roof over their heads, food on the table, or paying for childcare and health care-while costs continue to rise and while yet another COVID-19 variant increases hospitalizations nationwide,” the group of House Democrats wrote in a statement.