[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8886]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             STUDENT LOANS

  (Mr. MATHESON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for 
American students.
  Sierra Curian is a sophomore studying biology and chemistry at the 
University of Utah. Monday, I had the privilege of sitting down with 
Sierra and several Utah college students to talk about their 
experiences and why it is so important that Congress come together to 
solve the current student loan debate.
  Not surprisingly, Sierra and the other students I spoke with are very 
concerned about the prospect of student loan interest rates doubling on 
July 1. What impressed me the most was listening to the aspirations of 
these students, many of which I promised to share here on the floor of 
the House of Representatives.
  Sierra shared her hopes of becoming a large animal vet, hoping to 
specialize in equine medicine and research. Her dedication and 
determination toward this goal are apparent. Aside from being a full-
time student, she works with large animals at a nearby clinic.
  Sierra, along with over 110,000 students in Utah, is relying on 
subsidized student loans to help pay for education. As a sophomore, she 
has time to choose whether to continue her schooling by pursuing a 
doctor of veterinary medicine degree, but she has worries about what a 
higher interest rate could mean if she decides to continue her 
schooling.
  Education is the key to opportunity. Our public policies should make 
sure everyone in America has the opportunity to pursue their dream.

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