DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. THAT IS A BIG MOVE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMING IN. THE FIRST OF MANY APPOINTMENTS AND CONFIRMATIONS GOING INTO THE REST OF THE WEEK. >> DAY ONE OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION INCLUDES AN EXTENSION OF THE STUDENT LOAN MORATORIUM. IT IS ONE-ACT MINUTES TO HELP SOME OF THE BURDEN WITH PREPAYMENTS. ACCORDING TO DATA FROM STUDENT LOAN HERO, THERE ARE 1.3 MILLION BORROWERS WITH STUDENT LOANS IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE AVERAGE BALANCE IN THIS STATE? $36,293. THAT IS JUST BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. THIS AFFECTS ROUGHLY 12 PERCENT OF THE STATES 10 1/2 MILLION RESIDENTS. JOINING US TO TALK MORE ABOUT CHANGES WE COULD SEE COMING WITH A NEW ADMINISTRATION IS THE CERTIFIED STUDENT LOAN COUNSELOR. THOSE WITH STUDENT LOANS KNOWS WHAT THIS MORATORIUM IS. IT IS TO AVOID MONTHLY PAYMENTS WITHOUT ACCRUING INTEREST. ARE WE SEEING ANY BORROWERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT OUT OF WORK? >> YES. THE VAST MAJORITY OF LOAN BORROWERS THESE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS PENALTY FREE BREAK SINCE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTED IT AND ENTERED THE CARES ACT. IT HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH SEPTEMBER. IT IS AN 18 MONTH PERIOD WHERE MILLIONS OF BORROWERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CATCH THEIR BREATH WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT. >> WE KNOW THERE IS A BIG AUDIENCE OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION. DO YOU THINK WE CAN EXPECT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT ANYMORE RELIEF OR FORGIVENESS? >> PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN, WHEN HE WAS CAMPAIGNING, WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF SOME PRETTY PROGRESSIVE STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROPOSALS. I EXPECT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN TO ATTEMPT TO MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE PROPOSALS. MOST NOTABLY IN LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC HE HAS SUPPORTED A $10,000 DOSE OF STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS. IT SEEMS LIKE HE WANTS CONGRESS TO DO THE DIRTY WORK OF ACTUALLY TURNING THAT INTO A LAW. CERTAINLY, IF YOU ARE A STUDENT LOAN BORROWER IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT AT LEAST STUDENT LOAN PROPOSALS ARE BEING HASHED OUT ON CAPITOL HILL. >> DO YOU THINK THAT IS THE MOST THE IS THE BEST SCENARIO? >> IT MAY NOT BE THE BEST PATH FOR HIS ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE. I THINK A SAFER BET WOULD BE FOR HIS ADMINISTRATION TO FIRST ATTACK SOME OF THE PROPOSALS WITH REPUBLICAN CRITICISM. THOSE THINGS COULD INCLUDE MAKING IT EASIER FOR STRUGGLING BORROWERS TO AFFORD PAYMENTS. TO YOUR POINT IT IS BROUGHT WITH POLITICAL DANGER. >> WE HAVE GOT LESS THAN 30 SECONDS. WHAT KIND OF DIFFERENCE COULD STUDENT LOAN RELIEF MAKE ON THE AMERICAN ECONOMY? >> I AM NOT AN ECONOMIST BUT CERTAINLY, ECONOMISTS FALL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT. THEY SAY IF YOU REMOVED IT YOU ARE BASICALLY ALLOWING FAMILIES TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE ECONOMY ON A MONTHLY BASIS. TAKE AWAY THE $300 STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HAVE ALL THE MORE FUNDS TO SPEND ON DIFFERENT THINGS. IT IS A CONVERSATION WORTH HAVING BECAUSE MILLIONS OF BORROWERS ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR STUDENT DEBT.