Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 1635 because our country is facing a student debt crisis. In fact, nearly 580,000 student borrowers defaulted on their loans in just the last year. This debt crisis has been created, in part, because students and their parents aren't given the full information they need to make informed decisions about paying for college. Right now, only students receiving Federal loans are required to receive financial counseling. Even then, they only receive counseling when they take out their first loan and upon graduation. That means that countless students are signing up for thousands of dollars in loans and arriving on campus before they have received any advice about these major financial choices. This is just wrong. Our young people should not be left in the dark as they make decisions that will impact their lives for years after graduation. That is why I am supporting H.R. 1635, the Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act, which would make sure that students know all of their funding options, including grants, work study, and scholarship assistance, before taking out loans. The legislation would also ensure students and parents receive financial aid counseling before they sign on the dotted line. Higher education should be a stepping-stone to success, not a financial drag on our students' futures.…”