Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. DeSaulnier). Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for this bipartisan effort, and I want to thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today also in support of the Higher Education Extension Act. The Perkins Loan Program provides low-interest loans to economically disadvantaged students to help finance their postsecondary educations. The Perkins Loan Program assisted nearly 540,000 American students nationwide in the 2013-2014 academic year by providing $1.2 billion in loans. More than 1,500 colleges and universities across the United States participate in this popular program. While the Perkins Loan Program is sometimes viewed as benefiting students predominately in the Northeast, California is the second largest recipient. In California, more than 46,000 students received these loans last year. These loans resulted in more than $105 million in the last year to California students. Students from across the country who attend California schools, like Saint Mary's College in my district, are able to receive a top-notch education through assistance programs like the Perkins Loan Program. Increasing access and improving affordability translates to increased opportunities for students and improves the Nation's economy by ensuring that today's students are tomorrow's highly trained workforce.…”