[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 59 (Thursday, March 30, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1015
                             STUDENT LOANS

  (Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in defense of 
America's future.
  In their attempt to reform government, the Republican leadership has 
placed in jeopardy the finest educational system in the world. The 
contract on America puts student financial aid on the chopping block.
  In my State of Rhode Island, over 28,000 students took out loans, 
worth an estimated value of over $94 million, to pay for their 
education in 1994. This year the Republicans want to remove the in 
school interest loan subsidy which allows students to forgo the 
interest on their loans while they are still in school. If passed this 
action will increase the debt of Rhode Island's students by over $10 
million.
  I ask my colleagues, how does cutting aid to students help America 
compete in the global marketplace? The answer is, it does not. If we do 
not expand opportunities for higher education, the United States will 
fall behind. The American people are for balancing the budget, but not 
at the expense of students trying to make a better life for themselves; 
89 percent of the American people oppose cuts to student financial aid 
programs. They recognize the simple truth that supporting higher 
education today is an investment in America tomorrow. Do not deny our 
students the education they deserve. Support student aid.

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