Over the last four years, we have accomplished a lot, as an organization and as a nation. Thinking back to January 2021 – it was a time when democracy was reeling, Covid was surging, and the economy was on the brink. Now we are standing on more solid ground, but looking ahead to the potential for major changes and challenges over the next several years.
Young Invincibles – and that includes you – spent the last four years relentlessly pushing for what young people need. Thousands of you joined us for rallies and events, speaking to legislators, and sharing your stories to change the conversation. Young Invincibles consistently pushed for change – out in the streets and behind closed doors – and, many times, we found a receptive audience with the Biden Administration. We appreciate the many avenues of progress that President Biden and other members of his administration worked to open up.
The Biden Administration made historic progress on student loan forgiveness. As the first president to address the student debt crisis, the Biden Administration proposed ambitious loan forgiveness plans that the courts often challenged; at the end of the term, they provided forgiveness for over 5 million borrowers, totaling $183.6 billion discharged. At the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, only 7,000 enrolled in Public Service Loan Forgiveness had seen relief; now, over one million borrowers enrolled have been approved for PSLF. We are proud to be one of the leading organizations pushing for this success.
Additionally, the Biden Administration made significant strides for the health and well-being of young people as the nation recovered from the pandemic. The Administration implemented the American Rescue Plan which provided necessary tax credits, invested heavily in reproductive and maternal health in the wake of Roe v Wade being overturned, transitioned to the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and ensured that medical debt would be removed from credit reports. During the last four years, a record number of people signed up for health insurance through the ACA Marketplace and received affordable health plans. Though currently challenged in the courts, President Biden finalized a rule to extend ACA Marketplace coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, which would have allowed access for over 100,000 people.
As the Administration worked to simplify avenues for financial freedom for young people, they successfully implemented Direct File. Furthermore, they clarified independent contractor classifications under the Fair Labor Standards Act to protect employees.
While we did not get everything we pushed for, those were real wins for young people. Even with an often hostile judicial system and an activist SCOTUS throwing out plans, this is still a lot of progress. While we continue to wait for legal tangles to play out, we know that the power of young people speaking out is what made each of these wins happen.
I know there is a lot of apprehension about what may come next, even as soon as next week. I feel it too. But what young people need and deserve does not change just because the occupant of the White House does.
Young Invincibles is ready to fight for young people. We intend to spend the next years working diligently to make sure young adults are deeply involved with shaping the future of our country. That’s why we released an ambitious, but thoughtful, policy agenda for the next two years. We will find ways – big and small – where we can make progress for young people, all while fighting to protect the victories we have won.
Please stick with YI, but more importantly, don’t stop believing in the power of your voice to make change. Stay engaged. Resist apathy. Don’t give in to cynicism. We have work to do.
Kristin McGuire is the Executive Director of Young Invincibles