[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 134 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           STUDENT AID AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. J. RANDY FORBES

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 2009

  Mr. FORBES. Madam Speaker, I voted to oppose H.R. 3221, the Student 
Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, because I cannot support 
legislation that amounts to a government takeover of student loans, and 
at the expense of private industry. The same legislation does continue 
several efforts I have championed throughout my time as a Member of 
Congress, and it is regretful that these initiatives were not taken up 
separately to make it easier for students to get the financial aid they 
need to get a college degree.
  I support increasing the amount of aid available to college students 
through Pell Grants awards and voted to do so twice in the 110th 
Congress (H.R. 4137 and H.R. 2669). This program is vital to ensuring 
the accessibility of higher education for all Americans and I'm pleased 
this bill continues this increase in Pell Grants.
  In addition, I supported efforts to cut interest rates on federal 
student loans in half (H.R. 5) and to expand eligibility for parents to 
qualify for education loans for their children (H.R. 5715). I have also 
been a strong supporter of funding for Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions, which received 
valuable support in this bill as well.
  I was a proud supporter and original sponsor of legislation that 
would help bridge economic opportunity and the digital divide between 
minority institutions and their counterparts (H.R. 4137 in the 110th). 
I will continue to fight for these critical initiatives and others to 
improve access and quality in American education.
  Pell Grants awards, HBCUs, community college funding, and pre-K 
programs are too important to include them in the same bill alongside 
reckless provisions that restrict the student loan market and place the 
fate of student access to financial aid under the care and supervision 
of the federal government.

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