08/22/2019
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In Louisville, Trump signs order forgiving student-loan debt for disabled veterans

President Donald Trump addresses 2,000 veterans at the annual AMVETS convention in downtown Louisville on Aug. 21, 2019.
By John P. Wise | August 21, 2019 at 12:37 PM CDT - Updated August 22 at 2:55 AM

President Donald Trump closed his speech at the AMVETS convention in Louisville, Ky., by signing an order forgiving all student-loan debt for disabled veterans. (Source: WAVE 3 News)

Air Force One lands in Louisville on Wednesday afternoon ahead of President Donald Trump's speech at the AMVETS Convention. (Source: John P. Wise/WAVE3.com)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - President Donald Trump closed his speech in Louisville on Wednesday by signing an order that will forgive all student-loan debt for many of America’s disabled veterans.
Trump addressed the 75th AMVETS convention at the Galt House hotel in downtown Louisville.
“Every penny of student loan debt (for those) who are completely and permanently disabled," he said. “The debt of these disabled veterans will be erased. It will be gone. You can sleep well tonight. Nobody can complain about that.”
Trump said the measure will help approximately 25,000 disabled veterans, each of whom has an average debt of about $30,000. The news drew by far the loudest applause throughout his approximately 40-minute speech; WAVE 3 News’ David Mattingly said it prompted a standing ovation.
“They’ve made a sacrifice that is so great, and they never complain,” Trump said. "(This will save) hundreds of millions of dollars.
“Every warrior who serves ... we believe their government will show them the same devotion in return."
Presently, the law allows such relief for “totally and permanently disabled" veterans as long as they actively apply for it. Trump’s new measure makes it automatic.
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