[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18474]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         NINE NEW ENTITLEMENTS, DECREASED COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition 
to H.R. 2669 and in support of the McKeon alternative. As the father of 
three college graduates and a college sophomore, I understand the 
financial burden higher education poses on families and students. That 
is why I am proud of Republican efforts, particularly those of 
Representatives Buck McKeon and Ric Keller to expand college access and 
increase affordability.
  As lawmakers, our number one education priority should be to ensure 
that college is affordable for any student. Unfortunately, H.R. 2669 
pits the Federal Family Education Loan program against the Direct Loan 
Program and creates an imbalance in the student loan industry. Instead 
of helping students, the Democrat entitlement bill would require 
student borrowers to pay thousands more for a college education. H.R. 
2669 creates nine new entitlement programs, placing the interests of 
colleges and universities above the needs of low-income students, and 
does nothing to expand college access and affordability for middle-
class families.
  Congress should not be playing politics with college educations. I 
urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the McKeon alternative.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11th.

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