Zoe Lofgren: “Today is the first day of March Madness, the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and I am proud to announce that two local teams…”

“Today is the first day of March Madness, the NCAA Basketball Tournament, and I am proud to announce that two local teams from Santa Clara County are participating in this event: San Jose State University, which will face off against Kentucky in about an hour, and my law school alma mater, Santa Clara University, which will take on Maryland tomorrow. I share the excitement of all the students from these schools, and I congratulate the team coaches, Stan Morrison and Dick Davey. I want to take this opportunity, while the national spotlight is focused on our college athletes, to point out that some of these basketball players, and many more of their fans, rely on Federal loans to attend school. The omnibus appropriations bill that just passed the Congress reduces student aid, including Pell grants and Perkins loans, by yet another 13 percent, raising costs for thousands of students in California, and precluding others from even attending college. Mr. Speaker, I needed help to go to college, and I know that students today need it even more. I also know that this country needs educated employees to compete in the global marketplace. Many Members are rooting for their teams this weekend; I urge them to support the schools that produce these teams as well. Go Spartans. Go Broncos.”