Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the bill before us today takes several important steps in several policy areas to move our Nation forward. It prevents a pending student loan interest rate hike that would make college less affordable for American students and their families. It makes important investments in our roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure, investments that will put Americans to work today and make our economy more competitive for years to come. It reauthorizes the Flood Insurance Program that provides security to millions of Americans, while making the program more efficient and more fair to States such as Michigan that for too long have paid more in premiums than they receive in benefits. While this legislation does not include everything I had hoped for or supported, it makes significant progress on issues our constituents need us to address. Millions of Americans will be relieved that this bill avoids a looming increase in student loan interest rates. On July 1, those interest rates are scheduled to double, an increase that Americans already struggling to pay for higher education simply cannot afford. Extending the current 3.4 percent interest rate for another year lifts a significant burden, financial and emotional, from students and their families who were looking to us for aid. I am pleased Senate and House conferees have come to an agreement on a transportation reauthorization. Reauthorization of our Nation's transportation programs is long overdue.…”