On the recordJanuary 8, 2020
Mr. President, Kay Hagan was a kind and passionate public servant. She fought from the heart for women, children, students, servicemembers, and working people in North Carolina and across the country. In 2013, when interest rates on Federal student loans were about to double so that the government could increase profits off of the backs of our students, Kay said no. Together, with our colleague Senator Jack Reed, we put forward commonsense legislation to keep interest rates low for students across the country. In this instance and so many others, Kay stood for fairness and served as a voice for those who needed it most. Kay and I may not have agreed on every issue, but on those key issues that matter to working families--like equal pay, raising the minimum wage, and helping students getting crushed by debt--we were proud to fight side by side. My thoughts are with her husband Chip, their children and family, and the people of North Carolina as they mourn Kay's loss and celebrate her memory. ____________________





