[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5557]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             STAFFORD LOANS

  (Ms. HAHN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HAHN. This past Friday, I spoke to the graduates of Pepperdine 
University School of Public Policy. I gave the commencement address.
  Like many other students who will be graduating this year, they are 
determined and eager to take on the difficult challenges of this world. 
Unfortunately, many of them are leaving college with a mountain of 
student debt--debt that can keep them from pursuing opportunities which 
may not yield short-term financial rewards but could make our world a 
better place to live. You don't have to look far to find these amazing 
young people. Our offices are filled with them.
  Others have said it today, but I'm going to say it again. We must 
pass legislation to prevent the interest rate on Stafford loans from 
doubling this July 1.
  It's also why I've introduced H.R. 4286, which would allow students 
to begin paying back their Federal loans 12 months after they graduate 
instead of 6, and I hope I have support on that. This is commonsense 
legislation that will allow new grads the chance to start their careers 
without the burden of monthly student loan payments.

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