[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   COLLEGE STUDENT RELIEF ACT OF 2007

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                               speech of

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 17, 2007

  Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, the cost of college education 
continues to rise at an alarming rate. You may ask, ``why does it 
matter?'' The simple fact is that education is the single most 
important factor when it comes to equalizing opportunity and ensuring 
all students are able to achieve a better future and, of course, 
greater income. A well educated society is paramount to our global 
competitiveness and national security. Because education is so 
critical, I believe we have a duty to ensure it is available to all our 
citizens. The legislation before us represents an opportunity to assist 
borrowers with repayment of their student loan debt--a debt that is an 
investment in their future. While I support that goal, I also urge my 
colleagues to dig deeper into the problem, and take a hard look at the 
problem of rising tuition costs. After all, the debt incurred by 
students is the costs incurred to participate in postsecondary 
education. I would like to see us engage in a dialogue with the higher 
education community to understand why college costs are rising so 
rapidly and what can be done to assist students who are struggling to 
even enroll because the cost barrier is too high.
  I would also like to speak for a moment about the cost of this 
proposal. I fully support a fiscally responsible approach, and our 
newly reinstated PAYGO rules demand that we offset the cost of this 
proposal. As such, this bill is being paid for through reductions in 
government payments to the private and non-profit lenders and guarantee 
agencies that provide student loans. I have some concerns about how the 
cost of this bill may affect student benefit programs now available. We 
need to invest in education and we all need to take a hard look at the 
programs now available to ensure they are efficient and 
effective. However, we must not lose sight of the strengths inherent in 
our current system. Students and families benefit greatly from solid 
competition within the student loan program, which today results in 
reduced fees, repayment incentives, and yes, lower interest rates. But 
there is more: student outreach, need-based scholarship programs and 
services, statewide career testing for 7th through 12th grades--all of 
which are helping to make college more affordable and accessible. We 
shouldn't neglect that. As we proceed with this and other higher 
education legislation, I want to protect students and families from a 
one-size-fits-all mentality and ensure these programs that have served 
so many will go forward in an efficient manner for the students and 
families they serve, as well as for the American taxpayers making this 
crucial investment.

  I thank Speaker Pelosi and the Chairman of the Education and Labor 
Committee for including higher education in the First 100 Hours. It 
shows how important the issue is and that this Congress is committed to 
moving forward with an investment in our students and an investment in 
the future of our Nation.

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