I thank the Senator from Utah for his thoughtful remarks. I have been trying to think of a way to put in context what is at stake because the majority leader said in his remarks today: We have changed the rules 18 times. True. We have…

I will wait until the majority leader finishes. Mr. McCONNELL. I yield the floor. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader.

if I may respond to the Senator from West Virginia. First, I wish to congratulate Senators Manchin and Burr for helping the full Senate understand this issue. This is similar to a lot of issues we have to face. They are not simple. I used…

If I could respond to the Senator who suggested that,--the answer is yes. I think it is fair to say that the consolidation option that a student has in case the rates go up, at 8.25 percent can be called a cap. It is not a hard cap, but it…

That is how I understand it. I would say to the Senator from North Carolina,--I would presume a graduate of the University of North Carolina would be smart enough to make that decision for herself or himself?

I ask consent that the Senators from North Carolina and West Virginia and I be permitted to engage in a colloquy for a few minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Heitkamp). Without objection, it is so ordered.

I wonder if I might ask, through the Chair, the Senator from Michigan a question. I notice her chart on 7 million students, and I wonder which 7 million students she is talking about. My understanding is there are 11 million students who…

I come to the floor to ask my Democratic colleagues to take another look at the student loan issue that will be before us tomorrow. We are playing with real lives here. These are about 11 million students who are going to college in the…

I am glad I stayed to hear the Senator from Washington speak because I think this highlights the issue. That is a terrific political speech, but it bears no resemblance to what is actually happening in the student loan debate. The…

I thank the Senator from New York. I understand he has a previous meeting. I don't want to make him late because maybe it will produce some result. I hope it will produce a result--I don't see an issue that benefits either political party…

Well, if you are 1 of the 11 million students who borrow money under the bipartisan proposal--let's say you are an undergraduate, and that is two-thirds of the loans--your rate would be 3.66 percent this year, next year, and for the next…

I thank the Senator from Michigan. It could be my numbers are wrong. I think the 7 million student figure is actually a very good billboard for why not to support the Democratic proposal but to support the bipartisan proposal because what…