[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 132 (Thursday, September 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2306-E2307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 STATEMENT ON VOTE OF H.R. 3221, STUDENT AID AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY 
                              ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2009

  Mr. BURGESS. Madam Speaker, regrettably, today we voted on yet 
another expansion of our federal government at a severe cost to the 
American taxpayer. $100 billion dollars of stimulus money has already 
been given to the U.S. Department of Education in the ``American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act''--the so-called stimulus bill. With 
money borrowed from our children's future, the full appropriations of 
the stimulus bill have yet to be spent--and we have yet to be given an 
accounting of who exactly is getting and spending the American 
taxpayer's money. I can not support the duplicative spending in H.R. 
3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, until 
there is full accountability from the U.S. Department of Education of 
how they are spending this stimulus money.
  Furthermore, while I cast a no vote on H.R. 3221, I will note there 
are several good things in this bill. For instance, one of the proposed 
nine new federal programs at the U.S. Department of Education is one 
focused on our veterans. Members of our Armed Services should be given 
loan forgiveness when they valiantly serve to protect our freedoms, and 
they should be allowed to transfer general education credits from one 
school to another while they are serving. I wish this portion of this 
bill was given to Members for individual consideration; however, it 
wasn't.
  Instead, this bill primarily sought to get rid of the Federal Family 
Education Loan Program

[[Page E2307]]

(FFELP) and replace it with the U.S. Department of Education's Direct 
Loan Program. FFELP has been around for 40 years and served our 
constituents in allowing them access to higher education. To replace it 
in its entirety with the direct Loan program would be fiscal 
malfeasance. The U.S. Department of Education does not have the funds 
to give loans to students who are eligible for college loans and, in 
fact, has lost money in this program. From 1995 to 2003 the Direct Loan 
program borrowed $137 billion to float this program and has posted a 
loss in the amount repaid and the amount borrowed.
  I am also troubled by particular attention in this bill in Title III 
directed at giving grants to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for 
losses suffered during their Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, but 
no similar funding will be given to Texas for the losses they suffered 
during Hurricane Ike. Texas students deserve as much sound 
infrastructure as a result of hurricane destruction as Louisiana, 
Mississippi and Alabama.
  Furthermore, we should not have to use an education bill to address 
the voter fraud and tax evasion activity by the organization known as 
ACORN. I voted yes on the Motion to Recommit this bill to address the 
ACORN issues, but considering ACORN could have access to $1 billion--as 
compared to the $50 billion the American taxpayer could lose as a 
result of H.R. 3221--I will continue to vote no on H.R. 3221.
  This bill is just another example of the federal government getting 
rid of choice and mandating only a public option. Just as I have fought 
the battle with regards to our healthcare, I am equally concerned that 
our education program remains vibrant and competitive.

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