[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1447]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 SUPPORT THE COLLEGE STUDENT RELIEF ACT

  (Ms. GIFFORDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. GIFFORDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for the College Student Relief Act, legislation that will cut interest 
rates in half over the next 5 years.
  We live in an information-driven world where a college education is 
more vital than ever. Yet financial barriers will prevent millions of 
American high school graduates from realizing their full potential and 
getting the education that they need. This legislation will help 
middle- and working-class families afford to send their children to 
college at a time when the cost of college, particularly in Arizona, is 
skyrocketing.
  The average subsidized loan debt for tens of thousands of students in 
my home State of Arizona is around $15,000, a staggering amount for 
someone entering the workforce. This new act will save students in 
Arizona an average of $4,700, a substantial difference.
  We must focus on preparing young Americans like those we have in the 
gallery today to be competitive in this 21st century global economy. 
Ensuring access to higher education is critical. This is a goal that is 
supported by the American people.

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