Political Quotes

“Let me also join my colleagues in thanking Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Horsford for leading the Congressional Black Caucus' important discussion about rising burdens of student loans on our families and on our economy. Higher education is a major part of the American Dream. I know as a college graduate and I know as a senior administrator at a university, access to higher education must continue to be an option for the American Dream to continue to be a reality. The increasing financial burden higher education is placing on students, families, and the economy is unsustainable and threatens our country's economic progress. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, almost 13 percent of student loan borrowers of all ages owe more than $50,000, and nearly 4 percent owe more than $100,000. These debts are often beyond the students' ability to repay, which is demonstrated by the fact that delinquency and default rates are soaring. This week, the Smarter Solutions for Students Act, H.R. 1911, will come to the floor. Unfortunately, it is partisan legislation and is not a sufficient solution to address our Nation's student loan crisis; and it is certainly worth repeating, as you have heard and you will repeatedly hear. In fact, it makes students worse off than if nothing is done to stop the increasing variable interest rates.…”