[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9249]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             THE GET RELIEF FROM ACADEMIC DEBT ACT OF 2013

  (Ms. NEGRETE McLEOD asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. NEGRETE McLEOD. Mr. Speaker, upon graduation, many students are 
faced with repayment of student loans, in addition to seeking 
employment in a very tough job market. Over 5.4 million Americans have 
at least one past-due student loan account which affects their credit 
and our Nation's economy.
  Last week my colleague, Representative Janice Hahn, and I introduced 
H.R. 2349, the Get Relief from Academic Debt Act of 2013. The GRAD Act 
would extend the grace period of 6 months to 1 year after graduation 
before the onset of repayment of the Federal student loans.
  By extending the grace period, graduates have a longer period of 
opportunity to find a good-paying job before repayment of these loans 
begins. I urge the House to consider this legislation for the millions 
of the Nation's graduate students who are struggling to pay back loans.

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