[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6555]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0910
                       PROTECT THE AMERICAN DREAM

  (Mr. DEUTCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. DEUTCH. Mr. Speaker, in Congress, it's our job to help protect 
the American Dream. We have to remain the land of opportunity where 
anyone willing to work hard and stay focused can secure a brighter 
future. If Congress fails to act, 7 million college students across the 
country will see their student loan interest rates double to 6.8 
percent.
  I met some of these students last week at Palm Beach State College. 
Whether it's the young man who works 85 hours a week while carrying 12 
credit hours--the first in his family to go to college--or the young 
man who described in passion the 14-year path he has embarked upon to 
serve out his dream by becoming a surgeon, their pursuing higher 
education is a path of opportunity.
  If we want to protect the American Dream here in Congress, then we 
should give legislation that keeps interest rates low a fair shot. 
After all, that's all America's students are asking for--a fair shot at 
the American Dream.

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