Political Quotes

“I do respect the expertise and experience and dedication of my colleague and friend from Tennessee. I especially understand and am grateful for his leadership as the chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which has jurisdiction over this legislation. I understand that he is moving toward reform and overhaul of the current system of financial aid and loans that will make it better for students. That is the goal, that it will be ready perhaps sometime early next year. As we know from our experience in this body, timelines frequently shift and give way. So early next year may turn into later next year or the spring of next year or at some point in time. In the meantime, futures are in the balance--the futures of students in Connecticut and around the country who are trying to plan in their senior year. Their faces and voices are with me and with all of us every day. Their futures are the future of this country. The House has extended the Perkins Loan Program for 1 year. Why won't the Senate do it? My colleague from Tennessee urges that we simplify the program. Well, let's simplify decisions that are being made right now at the kitchen tables and the living rooms of families across the country and make available this option even as we simplify and reform the program because the failure to do so vastly complicates and confuses the lives of students who are making real-life decisions while we debate.…”