>> I was told I couldn't universally just change the way
in which you could do that with student loans. I 6 to student
loan programs that already exist
to reduce the burden student for nearly 4 million Americans,
cleaner sons 5.
>> Last night during his State of the Union, President Biden
pointed to yet another campaign promise he's delivered on his
latest effort to prevent reduce student debt. Includes a 1.2
billion dollar plan giving relief to 150,000 Americans.
The plan will wipe out loans worth up to $12,000 for those
who have been making payments for at least a decade. The
president's been quietly working to provide rounds of
debt relief after the Supreme Court's conservative majority
struck down his original plan for giving 400 billion dollars
in student loan debt for more than 40 million Americans.
Our next guest, Jessica Saint Paul, a physician's assistant
and community college educator calls the loan forgiveness
granted to her by President Biden, quote, life changing
after taking out $95,000 in loans for college and then both
a master's and pH and a Ph D her balance balloon to nearly
$150,000.
Now she goes nothing
working for more than 25 years in a public servant's salary.
Jessica says her loan payments reached $1200 a month.
She says that kept her from starting a family buying a home
and saving for retirement.
Her debt now forgiven. She's continuing her passion for
public service and encouraging others to do the same in their
schools and communities.
Jessica, Saint Paul introduce President Biden at a recent
event advocating for student loan forgiveness in Culver
City, California.
>> This freedom, this breathing room. It's because of President
Joe Biden.
And just 2 weeks ago,
I have my baby girl
to live my dream of being a mom
because President Biden has the back hardworking Americans,
public servants just like me.
I can invest in my retirement. Secure, brighter future for my
daughter.
It is with great honor and gratitude to introduce to you
President Joe Biden.
>> And now it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Jessica,
Saint Paul, a physician's assistant and adjunct professor
of public health at Los Angeles, Southwest College.
As we mentioned, she recently had nearly $150,000 of student
Loans forgiven. Jessica, welcome to the show.
Congratulations on the on the new baby. We don't have time
for you to show the little picture because I usually make
people Sony pictures of of the kids. But let's listen to more
of President Biden's State of the Union address address.
>> Good for the economy because folks are now able to buy a
home, start a business, start a family
while we're at it.
I want the public school teachers a raise.
>> But this is so that suggest that we we have a chart here
showing the breakdown. The president's student loan is
student debt relief and who's been helped. It's nearly
140 billion dollars, nearly 4 million people. And that now
includes that now includes you. Tell us how you found out your
loan was forgiven and how it's affected your day-to-day life.
>> But actually, for me, because I've been working with
American Federation of Teachers since 2018 and just a year
after winning the when our union actually so than
secretary device for the mismanagement of public service
loan forgiveness. And I saw that there are different
changes for public service loan forgiveness. I knew then at
that time because of the time and I've been in public service
that my loans will be forgiven. So you're going to receive the
letter was an email at that time. The loan servicer Mohit
the got the email. I didn't believe it. I had to call have
her e-mail to me. I can print it out and framed it. And I
knew at that moment that allows are going to be forgiven to all
the work that we've done over the past years and having this
administration. I'm relieved that public service loan
forgiveness programs have believe firmly that that for me
was just amazing. It is time for my forever. Yes.
>> Jessica, what would you say to politicians who oppose this
kind of debt relief?
>> You know, I always say that, remember, this is a bipartisan,
especially for public service loan forgiveness. This was
bipartisan was a bipartisan Congress, you know, with with
George Bush. And so this is that we're asking everyone that
think about our public services, our teachers, our
nurses, our firefighters, you know, the police and these are
individuals who commit their lives to public service.
So we think about different policies. And remember these
individuals who saved our lives, something we're thinking
about what this long-term economic impact of the pandemic
and people are going out of public service. We're here.
We're here to continue to serve. And we just need this
opportunity for us to get the public service loan forgiveness
promise that we had, which has happened in this
administration, which is truly amazing change millions of
lives of Americans.
>> And after everything you've been through, what's your
message to those who aspire to work in public service?
>> You can do this. The public service loan forgiveness have
program has been fixes no longer broken. That's why
elections matter take the opportunity. Doesn't matter
what you do is who you work for and where you are. You're
employed. Please continue to work in public service because
we have community members who are ready for you. We know when
this happened during the pandemic, this will never
happen without first responders, our teachers,
our educators, you know, our nurses Pa's Andy's everyone
within public service, I say, continue the service that you
do and the public service loan forgiveness promise will happen
under this administration.
>> Jessica, since this has happened, how have you been
able to treat yourself in some way big or small that you
couldn't before your loans for for forgiven?
>> Well, for me, is my family even able to have my baby girl?
I've always wanted to be a mommy. I'm you know, have Mary
amazing parents is for me. I've always wanted to have that
legacy. And so having my daughter is the biggest thing
in my life that I've been able to happen and I can still
continue working in public service. And I like that.
It treats are stuffed with having that at yes, having my
family was a treat for me. And it's been amazing since
this time. And so is this really good that I can continue
to work and continue to serve? My community found just
extremely happy and forever grateful