Chicago City Council December 16, 2020
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS
WHEREAS, The risk of contracting Covid-19 is at a national historic high with nearly 200,000 cases reported daily; and,
WHEREAS, The recommended federal, state, and local guidance is to minimize spread of the virus by staying home and limiting social interactions to those that share the same household; and,
WHEREAS, Essential workers perform services for the public that cannot be done from home, frequently lack benefits such as personal and family paid sick days, and often experience wealth barriers and greater debt; and,
WHEREAS, The recommended guidance lacks adequate support for essential workers who face such heightened vulnerability due to the virus; and,
WHEREAS, Temporary financial suspension of some federal student loans is insufficient to sustain long-term economic, health, and financial relief; and,
WHEREAS, Forgiveness of both federal and private student loans are overseen by the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Treasury; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, call upon the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Treasury for immediate federal and private student loan forgiveness for essential workers, including the thousands of essential workers in City of Chicago impacted by the virus; and,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, support the principal considerations within the House of Representatives Bill 8393 (H.R. 8393), Frontline Health Care Worker Student Loan Assistance Act of 2020, and additionally call for front line health care workers to instead be identified as essential workers; and,
Gilbert Villegas Alderman, 36th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to the Illinois General Assembly, each member of the U.S. Congressional delegation from Illinois, the Department of Education...
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