[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 208 (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H7059-H7060]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              STUDENT DEBT

  (Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to 
address the crippling cost of student debt.
  Although my Democratic colleagues and I agree substantially on the 
issue, we disagree substantially on the solution. We need to cure the 
disease, not just put a Band-Aid on it.
  Absolving student debt or making college free altogether does not 
address

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the problem. It just passes the debt on to people who have responsibly 
paid off their student loans, while encouraging the reckless spending 
on administrative bloat in higher education.
  From 1988 to 2018, the average tuition and fees at public 4-year 
institutions tripled and more than doubled at private 4-year 
institutions. We have seen an explosion of vice presidents, counselors, 
diversity coaches, and all types of administrative staff who have 
nothing to do with giving their students a means of finding employment.
  Why? Because they can. The money flows freely from the Federal 
Government, and they know that--all at the expense of the student.
  So rather than climbing walls, lazy rivers, and so-called safe spaces 
and then asking for bailouts, universities should be cutting costs and 
focusing on educating their students. This frivolous spending has 
ruined many young people's futures, and that is how we address the 
calamity of student debt.

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