OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 3221, Student Aid And Fiscal Responsibility Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 16, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Education

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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I thank the gentleman from Colorado and the Rules Committee for yielding time. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, and this rule, and I rise in support of every student who hopes to attend college but is grappling with rising costs.

For millions of students across America, we are going to make the cost of attending college more affordable. In Florida, my home State, hundreds of thousands of students and families will find the cost of attending college more affordable through significant increases in the Pell Grant and expanded student loans.

I cosponsored this landmark investment in our students and higher education because over the next 10 years we will invest over $2.2 billion in Florida students, including over $100 million for students in the Tampa Bay area, through increases in the Pell Grant. That means direct aid to half a million Florida students, including over 24,000 students in my district alone, at no new cost to taxpayers.

We all understand that in this economy families are being squeezed by the rising cost of tuition and living expenses. And with the price of college steadily increasing, too many students are forced to make tough choices when trying to figure out how to pay for college. But due to our efforts and support from President Obama, a college education in America will be more affordable.

A college education has always been critical. People with college degrees earn more. And a college degree today is even more valuable as the fabric of our workforce changes and we prepare students for 21st century jobs.

Thank you to Chairman George Miller and the great Education and Labor Committee for standing up once again for students, families, and American colleges and universities. Madam Speaker, this bill provide our students with the tools they need to be successful, and I urge support.

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