[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8762]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES

  (Mr. ELLISON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, on July 1, student loan interest rates are 
due to double. We also have seen numerous very short-term 
transportation bills as an extended longer transportation bill, which 
could give real certainty to workers and firms, is sitting there in the 
Senate and is ignored by the House.
  Despite the fact that the transportation bill is sitting there, we 
haven't taken the proper action, and student loan rates are due to 
rise, you wouldn't know it from being on the House floor. You wouldn't 
know it because the majority has not taken up these issues that are the 
most pressing issues to the American people.
  I'm not here to say that the Republicans are sabotaging the economy 
in order to get an advantage in the election. But there are a lot of 
people who believe that is the case. If the Republican majority wants 
to make sure that the people of America know that they're operating on 
their best behalf, I urge them to take action to preserve low interest 
rates for students to go to college, to pass a transportation bill, and 
take up the one that the Senate has already passed.
  Jobs are the key, but you wouldn't know it from being in this body, 
based on the action--or inaction--of the majority.

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