Bill Barrett: “I was assured throughout committee consideration that the $1 billion in extra money that we were looking for would be…”

“I was assured throughout committee consideration that the $1 billion in extra money that we were looking for would be resolved prior to coming to the floor with the bill. In fact, I even cosponsored the bill with that assurance. Now, of course, we find in the rule that we waived the budget rule so that no one could raise a point of order against the bill for violating the Balanced Budget Act that we all agreed to about 8 months ago. I know, Mr. Chairman, that this is much needed legislation if we are going to have student loans available to the millions of needy students out there. But to make the student loans available today, the House apparently is willing to add another unpaid bill to tomorrow's generation of students, and I am very disappointed over this action. However, in the limited time that I do have before me, let me highlight just a few provisions that I do support in the bill. The bill, first of all, would create a student loan forgiveness program for teachers in low-income schools.”