[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8735]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        STUDENT LOAN RATE HIKES

  (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, on July 1 of this year, student loan 
interest rates are set to double.
  This doesn't have to happen, though, and it won't if President Obama 
and Senate Democrats choose to work with House Republicans on a 
bipartisan solution.
  Unlike the Senate, the House of Representatives successfully acted to 
stop the unnecessary rate double. The President and Senate should 
follow our bipartisan example and build off the Smarter Solutions for 
Students Act.
  Despite the White House whiplash on this issue, our legislation is 
very similar to President Obama's own budget proposal. It will prevent 
rates from doubling, allowing students to benefit from low rates and 
protect low- and middle-income students.
  The House acted in a way that satisfies the President's original 
criteria for a long-term, market-based plan. We welcome the Senate to 
get on board.
  Preserving this problem just to be able to campaign on the issue year 
after year would be a true disservice to every student and taxpayer.

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