Thomas Daschle: “Congress, unfortunately, is going to miss many important deadlines this year and many critical opportunities to help…”

“Congress, unfortunately, is going to miss many important deadlines this year and many critical opportunities to help relieve the increasing economic squeeze on America's families. This morning, I would like to talk about one of those missed opportunities, which is helping families pay for college. We knew for 6 years that the Federal Higher Education Act would expire on September 30. Despite that, the majority failed to set aside time to reauthorize the law. That leaves the Senate in the unfortunate position of having to simply extend the current law--with no improvements, and no additional help for the millions of middle-class families in South Dakota and across America who are struggling to put their sons and daughters through college. Kim and Todd Dougherty are two of those parents. They live in Chamberlain, SD. They have three children: two sons, ages 20 and 22, and a daughter who is a junior in high school. Todd is a salesman. Kim teaches second graders at a tribal school. Both of her parents were teachers, too. This is a family that believes in education.”